File Under: WTF

Blind Drunk? Vodka 'Eyeballing' Latest Fad With Teens

You might have to see it to believe it, but a shocking trend gaining popularity among teenagers may actually prevent them from seeing anything at all.

"Eyeballing," a drinking game where participants pour vodka directly into someone's eye, is the latest -- and dangerous -- fad, and videos of the act are even popping up online."They're not doing this eyeballing to get drunk, they're doing it after they're drunk and they're drunk enough to act stupid," said Mike Gimbel, a substance abuse expert. "They're actually doing it as part of a fad. You know, I dare you to do this." Hundreds of YouTube videos have been put up to document the practice.

Three 2009 college graduates living in the District of Columbia told The Washington Examiner that eyeballing was a common party stunt. "Every time, it was a big spectacle where people were like 'what the hell is that kid doing,' " said one graduate, who wished to remain anonymous and compared the feeling to getting shampoo in the eye. Although, "eyeballing" is much more than fun and games doctors said.

"Vodka is about 40 to 50 percent pure alcohol, which can take off the top layer of the cornea," Robert Stutman, president of the Maryland Optometric Association told Fox41. "It can cause scarring. Can it make you go blind? I suppose it probably could, if it causes severe enough scarring of the cornea."

Dr. Barry Eiden told AOL Health that once the damage to these surface cells of the eye occurs, there is a possibility that with prolonged exposure damage to deeper layers of the cornea may lead to permanent vision loss.

He added that because these teens are intoxicated while "eyeballing" it's likely that their pain tolerance will be heightened and sense of urgency depleted, so they would not try to immediately flush their eye out with water.

"Other risks include infection once the surface cells are damaged, and a high likelihood of direct injury to the eye if the bottle hits the eye surface," Eiden, a member of the American Optometric Association. Eiden said he believes this fad has the potential to affect college-aged, high school and even younger students if it gains enough momentum.

How sad and scary is it that we've gotten to the point where we need to explain to people that they shouldn't pour alcohol in their eyes? And these kids are the generation that's supposed to lead us in the future. Heaven help us all.