[source: http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/320966/12/Japanese-eyeball-licking-trend-carries-blindness-risk]
(CBS News)
A strange trend among Japanese school-aged children and teens --
licking a friend or lover's eyeballs -- may be perplexing, but experts
are more worried about the germs they are potentially spreading.
"This is a dangerous practice which has the potential to spread a
number of bacteria that reside in the mouth to the eye resulting in
bacterial infections
such as conjunctivitis to styes as well as abscesses involving the lids
and eye socket," Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency medicine physician at
Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, told CBSNews.com.
Eyeball licking, which is also known as "worming" or oculolinctus,
has existed for quite some time, and there are numerous clips of people
engaging in the act on YouTube. Japanese blog
Naver Matome interviewed
one concerned teacher who said that he ran into two sixth grade
students licking each others' eyeballs in an equipment room. After he
confronted them, they admitted it was popular in their class. His
independent
survey of students confirmed his fears: One-third of the children admitted to eyeball licking.
The Guardian cites a Japanese music video from the band Born, which features an eyeball licking scene, as the spark for the reignited trend.
Dr. Robert Noecker, an ophthalmologist practicing in Connecticut, told
Medical Daily that the eyeballs may act as an erogenous zone due to the amount of nerves.
"The cornea is the most innervated part of the body," Noecker said.
"That's why it might feel good to have it licked. It's the same thing
with sucking toes -- they're so sensitive because the body needs to be
able to detect minor particles and other disturbances. If you're so
inclined, that's the plus."
But, eyeball licking comes with many risks. It's easy to spread bacteria that causes conjunctivitis, better known as
pink eye,
with your tongue. When infected with the germs, the clear lining inside
the eyelid and the white of the eye gets inflamed, giving the eye a
pink or red color. Normally, pink eye will go away on its own, but in
severe cases people will need antibiotics or other medical treatment.
The Japanese teacher also noted with growing concern that he saw up
to 10 students at a time wearing eye patches, which he realized were
hiding eye ailments.
Glatter, who hasn't seen any of these cases enter his emergency room
just yet, said he's also worried about the spread of sexually
transmitted infections.
"Chlamydia is a bacteria of particular concern which can be spread
sexually, and has the potential to lead to blindness if left untreated,"
he pointed out. "Although its incidence is decreasing, it is always a
concern in this. Setting especially if there has been any orogenital
contact."
There's also the chance that licking the eyeball could accidentally
scratch it. Any cuts can become a trap for bacteria, which can lead to
other problems. Dr. Phillip Rizzuto, a spokesman for the American
Academy of Ophthalmology, told the
Huffington Post that left untreated some of these germs could also cause blindness.
"The bacteria in the mouth is nothing like the bacteria in the eyeball, which is why we no longer recommend people lick
contact lenses to moisten them," Rizzuto said.
Noecker warned teens not to try this activity at all.
"There's got to be better ways to do things," Noecker said. "I would
recommend that people find another outlet that won't compromise their
vision in the long term."
Michelle Castillo, CBS News
