Corneal thinning diseases are considered a genetic disease or a disease of unknown origin. Patients may be blamed for rubbing their eyes, based on the assumption eye rubbing is damaging the collagen structure, and changing the thickness and shape of the cornea. Eye rubbing can cause corneal thinning and contour abnormalities, and is also one method to self-inoculate pathogens into the eye. However, patients rub their eyes to relieve symptoms of itching and irritation. If rubbing one’s eyes causes corneal thinning disease, what is the explanation for retinal thinning disease?

Chronic infection causes eye rubbing, corneal thinning disease, and retinal thinning disease. Eye allergies as a cause of eye rubbing, in patients with ocular surface issues, is a diagnosis arising from aggressive marketing by drug companies, and is a default diagnosis when the cause is unknown.  Moreover, allergies in general have been “associated” with chlamydia pneumonia; and chlamydia species can cause thinning diseases of both the cornea and retina.