When you blow your nose, air will often come out of your eye. It can be a funny trick to pull off at parties or when your ear is stuffed up from a flight or playing an instrument, but there could be serious implications if you do it too often, according to LiveScience.
Air coming out of your eye can be a sign of a blockage in your tear ducts, which send fluid to the surface of your eye, explains Jennifer Welsh, a science writer and editor at LiveScience. Having too much fluid can lead to irritation and eye infections, she said, adding that it is important to wash your eyes when they become too runny.
There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of this happening, such as drinking more water, using decongestants (which kill bacteria and viruses) and taking antihistamines. But if you’re not sure about these suggestions, it is still best to consult your doctor.
The nasal mucus lining thins and blood vessels can form when the nose gets dry, a common condition called rhinitis. Blowing your nose can add pressure to the thinned lining and rupture these blood vessels, which can lead to a nosebleed.
It’s rare, but it is possible to develop orbital emphysema from forcefully blowing your nose. This happens most often in people who have had facial trauma, such as a fractured eye socket, and the forceful blowing can push air into the space between the orbit and the skull.
