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| Girls engaged in eyeball licking |
(Scroll down for video) Officials have warned teens to stop engaging in the new craze of eyeball licking, according to a statement released by health officials in Japan.
The strange new craze originated in Japan, where teenagers have started licking their partner's eyes as a sign of affection.
The practice, known as oculolinctus, is believed to have been inspired by the Japanese band Born and their video Spiral Lie, which features a scene in slow motion of eyeball licking.
Health professionals have been quick to criticize the new trend after Japanese schools reported an increase in the number of children suffering from infections of the eyelids and conjunctivitis.
Dr. Robert Cykiert, of New York University Langone Medical Center said: "When you are licked in the eye, you are receiving dangerous bacteria. It's a very dangerous trend to say the least.”
He added: "People can be scarring the cornea and the damage may be permanent depending on the germs. Bacteria can cause a perforation or hole."
The craze is now said to have spread from Japan to the U.S. Virgin Islands, with videos and photos of people licking eyeballs being shared everywhere through YouTube and Tumblr.
Dr. Cykiert warned teenagers against taking part in the trend just to show love for your partner, and advised that instead they should adhere to hand holding and kissing, which has existed for millions of years.Mobile video not loading? Click here to view