Why do we rub our eyes when we're tired?

It seems universal that when a person - old or young - is tired, they rub their eyes. It’s even a way that babies communicate to their adults that they are ready for bed. Are we just born understanding that signal? Or is there something going on with our eyes that they need to be rubbed when we’re sleepy? Otolaryngologist Dr. Laura Orvidas helps us understand the connection in this episode. And stay tuned for the week of May 30, when all of our episodes will be sleep-themed. It’ll be a real “snooze fest”! Got a question you’ve been eyeing? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we won’t sleep on the answer! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.