When you wake up in the morning, you might find yourself rubbing your eyes to wipe away the drowsiness.
You might also do this several times throughout the day without even realising, particularly if you're stressed or tired.
But according to an expert, this would be a big mistake.
Nimmi Mistry, a professional services optician at Vision Direct told The Mirror that rubbing your eyes can actually cause a 'whole host of issues' and is something that should be avoided as much as possible.
The expert has warned people not to do it, especially when at work, as it could lead to scratches on the cornea and even infections of the eye.
She said: "For some, an automatic response to tired, irritated eyes - especially while stressed - is to rub them to achieve temporary relief.
"However, this can lead to a whole host of other issues.
"A 2018 scientific study showed that Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus are present on the surfaces of computer keyboards and mobile phones, both of which can be transferred to the eye simply via touch and cause potential eye infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis.
"By rubbing your eyes, especially at your desk, you can transfer bacteria from the surface of your keyboard or phone to your eyes, increasing the risk of infection."
Nimmi continued to say: "Rubbing your eyes aggressively can cause scratches on the cornea, the outermost part of the eye, making you more susceptible to such infections.
"Eye hygiene is imperative, so you should also make sure you always wash your hands and refrain from touching your eyes unnecessarily."
She added that if your eyes are feeling particularly irritated and you really want to do something about it, instead of rubbing them, reach for a clean tissue to use to wipe the area.
"Make sure you regularly wash your hands too."
Do you have a tip to share? We want to hear all about it. Email courtney.pochin@mirror.co.uk
