Ear, Nose & Throat ENT Disorders Causes of Goopy Eye Discharge By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on September 11, 2020 twitter linkedin John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and is an adjunct assistant professor at New York University Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board John Carew, MD on September 11, 2020 Print Occasionally waking up with "goopy eyes" might be normal for some people, especially small children. People produce a certain amount of eye discharge, a liquid made up of mucus, oil, skin cells, and other debris that accumulates in the corners of the eyes during sleep. However, eyes that water excessively or have an unusual discharge can be caused by several conditions. Here are some of the most common. Charles Thatcher / Getty Images Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis (also called pink eye) results in goopy eyes are also often very red or bloodshot. Pink eye can also cause the eyes to burn or feel itchy. Depending on the germ that has caused this infection, eye discharge may be white, yellow, or even green in coloration. Conjunctivitis can occur in both children and adults. Viral conjunctivitis is often accompanied by common cold symptoms. While many cases of pink eye are mild and go away on their own some require the intervention of a healthcare professional. See a doctor if you experience the following symptoms: Excessive pain or redness in the eyes Impaired vision Symptoms that fail to improve or get worse Bacterial pink eye that does not respond to antibiotic Even if symptoms are mild, pink eye can be very contagious. Avoid touching your eyes and practice frequent hand washing to avoid spreading the infection to others. Allergies Eye allergies can also be called allergic conjunctivitis and can cause a clear watery or whitish colored discharge. Additional symptoms include: Eye redness Itchy eyes Burning eyes Other symptoms consistent with hay fever or pollen allergies The Symptoms and Treatments for Eye Allergies Blocked Tear Ducts Blocked tear ducts are most common in babies or small children. This can occur because the duct is blocked by a thin piece of tissue. Infants may also have closed or undeveloped corners of the eyes which prevent tears from draining into the nasolacrimal ducts properly. Blocked tear ducts can occur in adults and in older children when they become blocked by infectious debris or when they are damaged from a facial injury or trauma. A condition called dacrocystitis is an infection of the eye drainage system which can be accompanied by redness and swelling around the eyes or nose. In extreme cases, fever and pain may also occur. Sometimes a procedure called a dacrocystorhinostomy is needed to unblock the tear duct drainage system. A blocked tear duct may cause drainage in only one eye or both eyes. A tear duct may also be fully or only partially blocked. Drainage may get worse if you also have a sinus infection or are congested. Blocked Tear Duct Diagnosis and Treatment Stye A stye is an inflamed gland on the edge of your eyelid which arises from an infected eyelash follicle. It usually causes a bump on the edge of your eyelid; the bump may be very tender and sore. It can cause excessive tearing of the eye. Treatment and Symptoms of a Stye on the Eyelid Dry Eye Disease Contrary to the name, dry eye disease can sometimes cause the eyes to become excessively watery. Other symptoms include feeling like there is something stuck in your eye, burning eyes, or very bloodshot eyes. Dry Eye Syndrome Overview and More Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Why your eyes are crusty in the morning. Updated January 18, 2018. Watson S, Cabrera-aguas M, Khoo P. Common eye infections. Aust Prescr. 2018;41(3):67-72. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2018.016 Cronau H, Kankanala RR, Mauger T. Diagnosis and management of red eye in primary care. Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(2):137-44. Carr W, Schaeffer J, Donnenfeld E. Treating allergic conjunctivitis: A once-daily medication that provides 24-hour symptom relief. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2016;7(2):107-14. doi:10.2500/ar.2016.7.0158 Petris C, Liu D. Probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;7:CD011109. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011109.pub2 Cleveland Clinic. Sty (Stye). Updated December 26, 2017 Zeev MS, Miller DD, Latkany R. Diagnosis of dry eye disease and emerging technologies. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:581-90. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S45444 Additional Reading All About Vision. Eye discharge (sleep in your eyes). American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Eye allergies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pink eye: Usually mild and easy to treat.