During sleep, your eyes still produce small amounts of oils and mucus to stay lubricated. But since you’re not blinking overnight, the discharge doesn’t get washed away like it usually would and instead gathers in the corners.

This eye goop can show up in all sorts of forms: crusty, sticky, thick, thin, white, clear, or a shade of yellow.

Naturally, TikTok users had thoughts.

One person wrote: “I refuse to lose even when I’m sleeping.” Another chimed in with, “Starting the day with a victory.” And then there was someone who dropped this little bombshell: “When I was in kindergar[t]en I put them in my tea,” complete with a skull emoji. Honestly… we don’t even know where to begin with that one.

For the most part, eye discharge is completely normal and nothing to stress over. But if your eyes are producing a lot of thick, sticky yellow pus, especially if it’s clinging to your lashes, it could be a sign of conjunctivitis (aka pink eye).

This condition is usually caused by an infection or allergies. While it tends to clear up on its own in a week or two, it’s far from pleasant—bringing redness, itching, burning, a gritty sensation, and that signature goopy pus.

To ease symptoms, the NHS recommends a few simple steps:

• Gently clean your eyelids with boiled (and cooled) water using a clean cotton wool pad—one pad per eye.
• Place a cold flannel over your eyes for a few minutes to help soothe the irritation.