Ah, I see—you’re talking about yellow crust in your eyes or on your eyelids when waking up. That’s actually quite common, and usually not serious, but context matters. Let’s break it down carefully.
What yellow crust can mean
1. Normal sleep discharge (“sleep” or rheum)
- During sleep, your eyes produce mucus, oils, and dead skin cells.
- If it dries overnight, it can appear yellow or golden.
- Usually:
- Mild in amount
- Washes away easily in the morning
- No pain or redness
2. Mild eye infection
- Bacterial conjunctivitis can cause yellow or greenish discharge.
- Often accompanied by:
- Red eyes
- Crust that sticks to eyelashes
- Mild irritation or burning
- Usually one or both eyes, can be contagious
3. Blocked tear duct or eyelid issue
- Sometimes glands in the eyelids (meibomian glands) get clogged.
- Can produce yellow oily crusts.
- May cause irritation or watery eyes.
4. Other causes (less common)
- Allergies can sometimes make discharge slightly yellow if eyes get irritated
- Rarely, more serious infections like blepharitis or eye infections from contact lenses
✅ When it’s usually okay
- Only a tiny amount in the morning
- Eyes are otherwise clear, comfortable, and not red
- Washes away easily
⚠️ When to see a doctor
- Persistent yellow or green crusting throughout the day
- Redness, swelling, pain, or light sensitivity
- Changes in vision
- Crusting that spreads to both eyes rapidly
💡 Morning tip
- Wash eyelids gently with warm water or a clean, damp cloth
- Avoid touching or rubbing eyes excessively
- If using contacts, make sure lenses are clean and not overworn
If you want, I can explain why it’s yellow specifically and not white, and what that color can tell you about whether it’s bacteria, oils, or just normal sleep discharge. That part is actually pretty interesting! Do you want me to go into that?
