We’ve all woken up with that crusty, yellowish gunk in the corners of our eyes.
Casually called “sleep,” it’s medically known as eye discharge — and though it looks unpleasant, it’s actually a sign your body is doing important cleanup work overnight.
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman explains that this discharge is a mix of mucus, oils, dead skin cells, and dead bacteria. In other words, it’s the residue of your eyes defending themselves while you sleep — a tiny battlefield’s aftermath.