Eyeball Licking: Hoax or Unhealthy New Trend

Eyeball licking, also known as oculolinctus or “worming,” is thought to be a new trend that began with a few kids in Japan. The discovery was reportedly made when a good portion of the class mysteriously had pink eye. Thanks to the other trend of posting anything unusual or strange on YouTube, the practice of eyeball licking has received a lot of attention.

Oddly enough, it’s used as a new way of expressing how much a person likes another person. It’s part of the initial dating process, especially among preteens. It’s comparable to a foot fetish or toe licking, the reason is that the cornea is sensitive and licking it causes a tingling sensation.

Eyeball licking poses some serious health issues though. Kids might not think much about getting a case of pink eye that clears up relatively quickly and doesn’t pose any long-term damage to the eye, but it can cause more than just pink eye. Other health problems that may arise due to eyeball licking include:

• Sties
• Scratching the lens
• Eye herpes (like a cold sore virus)
• Vision loss due to infections

Some claim that worming is just a hoax or an urban legend, and while that might be true, word has spread about the unusual practice and kids are curious about the practice. Regardless of whether the initial story is true or not, copycats are sure to turn up and they need to be aware of the risks of putting foreign bacteria in their eyes.