Q&A: Excess Mucus and Grey Spot in Eye

Sniffing Out the Cause

Question: My husband wakes up every morning with a lot of mucus in his throat and nose. Has this got to do with the air quality in our room?

Answer: A common reason for waking up with mucus in the throat and nose is when the nasal membranes get inflamed, and mucus flows downwards from the back of the nose. Accompanying symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion. Try turning on a vaporiser or humidifier to increase the moisture content of the air.

Dust mites, one of the most common allergens in the environment, can aggravate symptoms. Wash your bed sheets and pillow covers in hot water regularly to kill dust mites and remove the allergen these microscopic bugs produce. Medications such as antihistamines or intranasal steroid spray may be used to provide relief in severe cases.

Related: Keep Germs Away

Another common reason is when stomach acid gets into the throat. It can occur without any signs or be associated with symptoms such as cough, sore throat or hoarseness of voice.

If your husband’s condition does not improve, get him to visit a doctor for a comprehensive review.

Related: When Allergies Occur

Keep an Eye On the Spot

Question: I recently noticed a greyish patch on the white of my left eye. It’s been a month but the grey spot is still there. There is no pain. What is causing this discolouration, and does it require medical attention? I’m a 48-year-old woman.

Answer: There are two areas of the eye that the grey spot may arise from. If it is from the conjunctiva (the translucent mucous membrane covering the front of the eye), it may be one of the following conditions:

• Pingueculae: This is a common conjunctival degeneration and happens to people who are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. It is a yellow-white lump located adjacent to the limbus, which is the area between the cornea (the transparent area forming the front of the eye) and sclera (the white, outer layer of the eye).
• Naevus: This appears as a well-defined, flat or slightly raised lesion. The degree of pigmentation varies and may become darker during puberty or pregnancy. Naevus generally does not require treatment. However, you should see a doctor if there is a change in colour, or if the spot increases in size or thickness.
• Ocular surface squamous neoplasia: This is a serious but uncommon condition usually seen in older adults.

Related: Eye Infections

If the grey spot arises from the sclera or epi-sclera (outermost layer of the sclera), then the conditions are usually congenital (present since birth). These conditions include the eye disease, ocular melanocytosis, or scleral thinning from defective collagen production. Diseases that affect other organs/tissues and toxicity from certain medications can also give rise to pigmentation of the eyes. Do consult an eye specialist to determine the cause of the grey spot.

Read these next:

• Good Eye Care Habits
• Rhinitis
• Eye Care for Adults