TikTok's popular 'self-care' trend 'bed rotting' has sparked a warning from experts that it could be bad for your eye health.
The viral trend, coined by Gen Z users on the video-sharing platform, involves people spending extended amounts of time in bed scrolling on their phones or watching TV to relax.
Bed rotting has sparked debate among experts with many raising concerns over its impact on your mental health and physical wellbeing.
Spending some downtime in bed now and again won't do us any harm - perhaps quite the opposite - doing this on a regular basis could be a sign of burnout or depression.
If you think that you might be experiencing either, you can get support from the likes of your GP and other mental health organisations like Shout 85258, Anxiety UK and Mind.
In addition to its mental health impact, eye health specialist and ophthalmologist at Feel Good Contacts Alastair Lockwood has warned of its effects on the health of our eyes.
Binge-watching TV or constantly scrolling on your phone when it is in close proximity to your eyes can lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS), according to the ophthalmologist.
The expert has explained that the condition can cause your eyes to become "dry, tired, and even strained".
If you're thinking of trying the TikTok trend for yourself, here are some tips that you should follow to help protect your peepers.
4 tips to protect your eyes as bed rotting trend takes over TikTok
Blink regularly
When you are focusing on screens, you are likely to blink less, causing your eyes to become dry and even sore.
"If you're not blinking enough, your eyes are not receiving regular hydration and moisture from your tears. As a result, your eyes will begin to feel dry and irritated," Alastair explained.
"Get into the habit of 'resting your eyes' by looking away and closing them purposefully, the eyelids are great protectors with lots of moisturising glands on the inside."
Take a break
It is important to give your eyes, as well as your mind, a break from the ever-present screens.
Alastair suggested "looking away from your screen for a minute or so every now and again can give your eyes a much-needed break".
Check your screen brightness
Be aware of how bright your screen is when you are using your computer.
"If it's set to the highest setting, turn it down slightly and see if it makes any difference to how your eyes feel," the expert added.
"An incredibly bright screen can be very harsh on the eyes, so you can minimise glare by dusting your computer monitor and investing in an anti-reflection cover."
Blue light
LED screens, such as phones, iPads, and laptops, emit blue light which can be "harmful" to your eyes.
"In fact, watching too much TV (especially late at night) can suppress melatonin production, and melatonin is needed to make us feel ready for sleep," the eye specialist continued.
"It's worth investing in a pair of blue light-blocking glasses.
"These have been specially designed with lenses to filter out and block the unwanted blue light given off by digital screens."
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