Rheum
340429
225362627
2008-07-13T08:18:32Z
98.218.232.71
{{dablink|For the [[rhubarb]] plant, see [[Rhubarb|''Rheum'' (genus)]].}}
'''Rheum''' is a medical term for the natural watery discharge from the eyes, commonly known as "eye potatoes", "sleep sugar," "sleepy-dust," "sleepies", "eye cheese", "eye crusties", or "eye boogers" (or some derivative thereof), which forms a crust on the [[eyelid]]s during [[sleep]] (contrast to [[Mucopurulent discharge]]). It is formed by a combination of [[mucus]] (consisting of [[mucin]] discharged from the [[cornea]] or [[conjunctiva]]), [[tears]], leaked blood cells, dead skin cells from the eyelids, and dust. In Folklore It is thought to be the work of the Sandman the night before.
Normally, blinking causes this substance to be washed away with tears. The absence of this function during sleep, however, results in a small amount of dry rheum forming in the corners of the eyes even among healthy individuals, especially children. Still, the formation of a large amount of crust or the presence of [[pus]] within it may indicate [[dry eye]] or other more serious eye infections including [[conjunctivitis]] and corneitis.
Adults and older children can easily remove the crust by washing the eye with water or simply brushing them away with clean fingers. In young children, however, the buildup of rheum can be so severe, that opening one's eye upon awakening can be difficult or impossible without washing the eye. Very young children or people under care may need to have this done by another individual.
{{Symptom-stub}}
[[Category:Symptoms]]
[[Category:Ophthalmology]]
[[ja:目やに]]
[[pt:remela]]
[[ta:பூளை]]
[[zh:眵]]