We’ve all been there—waking up after a great night’s sleep only to find crusty yellow gunk in the corners of our eyes. It might seem gross, but that sticky stuff is actually proof your body is doing its job.
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman recently explained on TikTok that this “sleep dust” is made up of dead bacteria your eyes fought off overnight. When you wipe it away, you’re clearing out the remains of a battle your immune system won while you were resting.
Our eyes naturally produce mucus and oils to stay moist. Since we don’t blink while sleeping, these secretions build up and dry out, creating that familiar crust. Most of the time, it’s harmless—just a mix of dead cells, oils, and trapped debris.
But if the discharge is excessive, sticky, or accompanied by redness, it could signal an infection like conjunctivitis. In those cases, rinsing with cooled boiled water and using a clean cloth can help. Otherwise, a little morning eye gunk just means your body’s defenses are working hard—even when you’re not.
