Ophthalmologist Dr Sharoon Shitole warned that frequent and vigorous eye rubbing can lead to mechanical stress and serious corneal thinning.
Habitual eye rubbing has been strongly linked to keratoconus, a condition where the cornea bulges forward into a cone-like shape, causing severe astigmatism.
Experts recommend addressing underlying issues such as allergies or dry-eye disease instead of frequently rubbing irritated eyes.