We’ve all heard about people doing strange things for love, but Japanese students are taking love-induced madness to a whole new level – and putting their health at risk in the process.

The latest craze sweeping through Japan is ‘oculolinctus’ – eyeball licking as an expression of affection between young lovers.

However, it has led to a surge in cases of eye infections and can even cause blindness, doctors have warned.

The latest craze among students is ‘oculolinctus’ – eyeball licking as an expression of affection between young lovers

The bizarre fetish, which is also known as ‘worming’, was uncovered by the Japanese website, Naver Matome, which revealed that videos of eyeball licking have been posted on YouTube.

But eyeball licking has not only taken off in Japan.

Elektrika Energias, 29, a student in the U.S. Virgin Islands told The Huffington Post: ‘My boyfriend started licking my eyeballs years ago and I just loved it.

‘I’m not with him anymore, but I still like to ask guys to lick my eyeballs. I just love it because it turns me on, like sucking on my toes. It makes me feel all tingly.’

However, the practice is not without its dangers – it can transmit the bacteria which causes conjunctivitis, Medical Daily reports.

If the person doing the eyeball licking has the herpes virus, that can be passed on as well.

Naver Matome discovered that the craze came to the attention of one school in Japan when it was noticed that up to ten children in each class arrived at lessons wearing eye patches.

It has led to a surge in cases of eye infections, such as conjunctivitis, and can even cause blindness

The school also discovered that a third of its 12-year-old pupils admitted to engaging in the practice.

‘Nothing good can come of this,’ Dr David Granet, a San Diego ophthalmologist, told The Huffington Post. ‘There are ridges on the tongue that can cause a corneal abrasion. And if a person hasn’t washed out their mouth, they might put acid from citrus products or spices into the eye.’

Dr Phillip Rizzuto, from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, added that eyeball licking can cause blindness as the bacteria found in the mouth can damage eye tissue.

Read more: Daily Mail