Would you lick someone else’s eyeball? This odd new trend started by school-aged children and teenagers in Japan is also called ‘worming’ or oculolinctus.
A teacher in Japan told CBS News that he caught two sixth graders licking each others eyeballs and then after doing his own independent survey, he found that one-third of the children in the school admitted to ‘worming.’
So what can go wrong with this act? Let’s count the ways…
Oculolinctus Spreads Bacteria
Does the person who is licking your eyeball have bad breath? Bad breath is a sign that the mouth is full of bacteria. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be caused by a number of things, poor dental hygiene, having food stuck between your teeth, dry mouth, infections, certain medications, and even having acid reflux.
Even without bad breath, your mouth is filled with bacteria which can quickly spread from the mouth to the eyeball, potentially resulting in significant infections.
Eyeball-Licking Causes Pink Eye
This highly contagious infection is also known as conjunctivitis and is common in children. Pink eye causes redness, itching, inflammation, and a greenish, yellowish liquid to collect in the eyes. Pink eye comes from a bacterial infection or viral infection. If you have a watery discharge from the eye, you most likely have pink eye caused by a viral infection, according to the Mayo Clinic, but if you have a green or yellowish discharge, it’s probably a bacterial infection.
Licking Eyes Can Spread Herpes
If the person who is doing the licking has a cold sore or herpes, they can spread herpes to the other person’s eyes, potentially resulting in scarring of the cornea, and blindness. Cold sores, also called fever blisters, or oral herpes, are caused by the herpes simplex virus which is highly contagious.
Tongue Abrasions Can Cause Corneal Ulcers
A corneal ulcer is an erosion or open sore in the outer layer of the cornea, which is often the result of a bacterial infection, fungus, or a parasite such as acanthamoeba. You can also get a corneal ulcer from abrasions, or cuts on the eyes. The tongue has ridges can cause damage to the cornea, so eye-licking can cause abrasions resulting in long-term damage.
Symptoms of a corneal ulcer include blurry vision, an eye that appears bloodshot, itching, pain, watery discharge, and a white patch on the cornea. Treatment will depend on the cause of the ulcer.
If bacteria caused your ulcer, you’ll probably end up with antibiotic drops, and potentially corticosteroid eye drops to reduce the swelling and inflammation. If the condition is severe, then you may need a cornea transplant.
Licking Eyeballs is Dangerous
Eyeball licking can cause some serious infections and damages to the eye which can lead to blindness if not treated. So far, the eyeball licking trend has not hit the United States – let’s hope it never does. Dr. Robert Cykiert, an associate professor in the department of ophthalmology at the New York University Langone Medical Center told ABC News that he recommends “sticking with hand holding and kissing, stuff that’s been around for millions of years.” Good call.
Resources:
Medical News Today. Eyeball Licking Can Be Dangerous, Doctors Warn. (2013). Accessed June 16, 2013.
ABC News. Experts Warn Eyeball Licking Trend Can Injure the Eye, Damage Sight. (2013). Accessed June 16, 2013.
Langston, D. Herpes Simplex Virus in the Eye. (2013). Digital Journal of Ophthalmology. Accessed June 16, 2013.
Mayo Clinic. Pink Eye. (2011). June 16, 2013.
Medline Plus. Cold Sores. (2013). Accessed June 16, 2013.
Medline Plus. Corneal Ulcers. (2013). Accessed June 16, 2013
