Why You Wake Up With Yellow Eye Gunk

It’s not just gross—it’s your body winning a battle overnight.

There’s a strange little “war” going on while you sleep, and it’s happening in your eyes. After a long day, nothing beats climbing into bed and drifting off. But come morning, you might find something unpleasant: yellow goop in the corners of your eyes.

What Is That Yellow Stuff?

Most of us simply wipe it away and move on. But few actually know what that crusty discharge really is.

Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman shed some light on the mystery in a viral TikTok.
“If you’ve ever woken up with crust on your eyes—that yellowy stuff—that’s actually dead bacteria your eyes have defeated overnight,” he explained.
In short, your eyes fight off bacteria while you sleep, and that crust is the result. You’re literally wiping away the evidence of your body’s nightly win.

Why It Builds Up at Night

During sleep, your eyes continue to produce oils and mucus to stay moist. But since you don’t blink while you’re asleep, that discharge doesn’t spread out—it pools in the corners instead.

This eye gunk can appear crusty, sticky, thick, thin, white, clear, or slightly yellow. All of these are normal.

TikTok Reacts

Social media users were stunned by the explanation.
One joked: “I refuse to lose even when I’m sleeping.”
Another added: “Starting the day with a victory.”

One comment, however, shocked everyone: “When I was in kindergarten, I put them in my tea,” followed by a skull emoji. We have no words.

When It’s Not Normal

While light eye discharge is typical, you should be cautious if it becomes thick, yellow, and sticky—especially if it clings to your lashes.
This could be conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. It’s caused by infections or allergies and usually clears up within two weeks. But in the meantime, it can make your eyes feel itchy, gritty, red, and uncomfortable.

How to Ease Conjunctivitis at Home

According to the NHS, you can manage mild symptoms with these steps:

• Wash your eyelids with clean water. Boil it first, let it cool, then use a cotton pad to gently wipe away crust (use a new pad for each eye).

• Cool your eyes with a clean, cold flannel for a few minutes.

Now you know—those crusty corners in the morning aren’t just gross. They’re tiny trophies from your body’s night shift.