To avoid eye contact or make eye contact with your dentist while getting work done? It's likely an internal debate you've experienced while at the dentist. You may feel rude if you close your eyes, essentially shutting yourself off to your dentist. On the flip side, you may make the dentist uneasy if you are staring at them the whole time while they are prodding around in your mouth. A good middle ground seems to be eyes open while looking elsewhere.

An Arizona-based dental office sparked this debate in the comments section of its video on this topic. Flagstaff Dentistry 4 Kids (@flagstaffdentistry4kids) posted its video on July 23. It has amassed 2.9 million views already.

Using the Sabrina Carpenter’s bop, “Please Please Please,” Flagstaff Dentistry 4 Kids jokingly shared the request: Please close your eyes when getting work done.

In the video, as the dentist works on the “patient’s” teeth, the patient is staring at them. The dentist wears a reminder that's taped to their glasses. “Plz close ur eyes,” the note reads.

@flagstaffdentistry4kids 👁️👄👁️ #dentalassistant #dentist #dentistsoftiktok ♬ Please Please Please - Sabrina Carpenter

Viewers weigh in

Dental patients weighed in on whether or not they close their eyes. Surprisingly, many think it's more awkward to close their eyes.

“NO WAY PEOPLE CLOSE THEIR EYES I THOUGHT IT WAS ALWAYS AWKWARD AVOIDING EYE CONTACT,” one viewer said.

“I thought it was rude if I closed my eyes,” a second agreed.

Most viewers said they keep their eyes open, but they don't stare at the dentist.

“I study those ceiling tiles like I’m taking the SAT,” one user commented.

"I just look at a random light," another said.

"Nope sorry closing my eyes makes me feel everything you're doing 10x more. I gotta find something to stare and disassociate at," a third wrote.

So, most people agree it's kind of weird to stare down your dentist while they are working on your teeth for 45 minutes. What object you choose to fixate on, however, is totally up to you.

The Daily Dot reached out to @flagstaffdentistry4kids via TikTok comment and direct message.

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If you're a heavy sleeper, you likely set multiple alarms to ensure you will wake up in the morning. However, a nurse says that setting more than one alarm may be doing more harm than good. In a viral TikTok, she explains why it can harm your sleep cycle and cause you to feel more exhausted than refreshed.

TikTok user Jordan (@jordan.bruss) says she's a nurse. She uses her platform to promote a healthy lifestyle. “If you’re somebody who sets multiple alarms, I have bad news for you,” she says in one of her most viral videos.

The TikTok was viewed over 1.5 million times.

The bad news is that “waking to multiple alarms every morning really disrupts your REM cycle frequently,” she says. 

What is REM sleep?

According to the Sleep Foundation, "Most adults need about two hours of REM sleep each night." "During REM sleep, your eyes move rapidly behind your closed eyes," the Sleep Foundation notes. Hence the name: Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. It's the fourth and final phase of sleep and is very important. According to the Sleep Foundation, it "plays a role in memory consolidation, emotional processing, brain development, and dreaming."

So when your alarm goes off, it can disrupt this cycle of sleep, according to Jordan. “This causes sleep inertia, increased drowsiness, fatigue, mood swings, and it also raises your cortisol levels,” the content creator elaborates.

“Every time that alarm goes off, you're in that flight or flight response," she says. "So, waking up like that multiple times in the morning is very stressful."

What is sleep inertia?

According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep inertia is “the groggy feeling upon waking, caused by abrupt disruption of sleep.” Sleep inertia reduces reaction time; inhibits short-term memory; and impairs cognitive functions, such as thinking, reasoning, remembering, and learning. 

So what should you do instead?

Jordan recommends waking up as soon as your first alarm goes off.

“Get up! Don’t keep traumatizing yourself," Jordan says.

Newsweek spoke with several sleep psychologists, and their remarks reiterate what Jordan said in her video. The experts recommend using light to wake up instead. Katherine Hall, a sleep psychologist, recommends getting a sunrise alarm clock instead.

"A sunrise alarm clock mimics a natural sunrise by gradually intensifying light, providing a gentle awakening similar to the body's response to daylight," Hall told Newsweek. "This gradual start allows for a more calming awakening which is less likely to leave you feeling groggy."

If you don't want a sunrise alarm clock, however, Hall's advice is similar to Jordan's: Stick to one alarm. Hall also recommends choosing a clam ringer and placing it away from you so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off.

@jordan.bruss Good sleep hygiene is a big part of my physical and mental health. I promise I would not be in the shape I am in without doing some serious research in the deep sleep department. Don't cause yourself extra physical and mental stress. Excess cortisol levels make you gain and hang on to weight. So when the alarm goes off, it's time, get up. You'll look and feel better! #fyp #sleep #sleephygiene #cortisol #cortisollevels #healthylifestyle #healthcoach #lifecoach #nursecoach ♬ original sound - Jordan

Multiple alarm setters weighed in

Jordan's video amassed 1.2 million views. It doesn't seem like the multiple alarm setters will be changing their ways anytime soon.

“But when you go back to sleep after the first one it’s the best feeling,” the top comment reads.

“Jokes on you, I sleep through the alarms and that's why I need several. can't have sleep inertia if you don't wake up,” a second remarked.

One woman who uses a sunrise alarm clock also weighed in. "A sunrise alarm clock changed my life! It works and it’s the most peaceful way to wake up. The first day I woke up I literally woke up with a smile on my face," she shared.

The Daily Dot reached out to Jordan via Instagram direct message.

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A woman is warning against cheap earrings from Amazon, Shein, and H&M after she developed keloids on her ears from wearing them.

In a TikTok with over 334,000 views, content creator Sailor Rozema (@sailor.rozema) sends a PSA to her fellow “dangly earring girls”: fast fashion’s cheap jewelry can adversely affect your health.

“If you need any more reasons why you should never, ever wear cheap jewelry from Shein, H&M, Brandy Melville,” Rozema begins, “I’m going to show you what I’ve been fighting for the last two years.”

Rozema pulls her hair back and closes in on the backs of her ears, revealing large keloids formed at the base of each ear where presumably an earring piercing once was.

From 'dangly earrings' to keloids

“This was my old earring rack,” Rozema says, an image of an earring rack with rows bright, dangly earrings appearing behind her, “every single earring on here is from Shein, Amazon, a few Kate Spade ones, H&M, and Brandy Melville.”

Rozema says she used to be a “dangly earring girl” before her keloids appeared. Now, the content creator says she doesn’t even wear her hair in ponytails in public because of her embarrassment about her keloids. 

While some may say she could simply get them cut off, Rozema counters that the keloids would simply grow back. “They regrow almost 100% of the time,” she explains.

Instead, Rozema says she sees a dermatologist every ten weeks and receives a steroid injection to try and “soften” the keloids.

“They’ll literally never go away. I will never be able to wear earrings for the rest of my life because of Shein earrings,” she says. 

As the video ends, Rozema sends a final warning. “Even though the earrings are literally $1, don’t buy them.” 

Viewers offer advice

In the comments, users shared their reactions and their advice for how they combat the risks of cheap jewelry.

"How the hell did THAT happen?!" one user exclaimed.

“Usually I’ll coat them with clear nail polish and ALWAYS clean them with alcohol before putting any jewelry in my ear and I have yet to have a problem with my super sensitive ears,” another viewer offered.

“Usually it doesn’t depend on the cheap stuff, you can also be allergic to certain things! Cheap or expensive! I can’t carry everything either,” a third viewer noted.

Someone else wrote, “I used to work for a very well known diamond jewelry company. I only buy pure silver or gold from now on. Metal allergies are more common than we realize.”

The Daily Dot has previously reported on the TikTok Rozema uses as the opening reference for her video, in which a woman battled a severe rash around her eyes, chin, and ears for 6 months before it went away only after she took out her Shein earrings. 

A correlation between keloids and low cost jewelry?

A study referenced in the article by the American Academy of Dermatology found that about 18% of North Americans are allergic to nickel, a material commonly used to make low cost jewelry. 

An article published by the National Library of Medicine found a correlation between the development of keloids on earlobes and “the exacerbation of local neurogenic inflammation” caused by the metallic backs of the earrings on the subjects evaluated. 

To avoid pesky nickel in jewelry, dermatologist specialist Dr. Jean Ho recommends pure-grade sterling silver, and jewelry made from stainless steel as the safest option. 

Gold lovers should be on the lookout as well. Dr. Ho says that even 14-karat gold has “leachable nickel,”  which is nickel that can be drawn out by sweat, water and detergents. To avoid nickel in gold jewelry, she recommends  18-karat or 24-karat gold. 

While fast fashion brands like Shein and H&M may carry all manner of cute and interesting earrings for low prices, Rozema argues that what you save in dollars you might pay for in your health.

@sailor.rozema #stitch @Erin this is ur PSA to splurge on expensive earrings- id rather pay for some solid gold hoops than my dermatologist bills😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁#keloids #earrings #shein #greenscreen ♬ original sound - sailor rozema

As the caption of her video reads, “I’d rather pay for solid gold hoops than my dermatologist bills.”

The Daily Dot reached out to Sailor Rozema via email for more information. We also reached out to Amazon and Shein via press email for comment.

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Medical care in the United States is often incredibly expensive. As most Americans are aware of these costs, some will put off medical treatment until the last possible moment in hopes that the issue will resolve itself organically. 

“One in four adults say that in the past 12 months they have skipped or postponed getting health care they needed because of the cost,” reads a piece in KFF. “Notably six in ten uninsured adults (61%) say they went without needed care because of the cost.”

Now, a user on TikTok has sparked discussion after issuing a warning about this practice. Specifically, if you suspect you have liver issues, this TikToker uses her own experience to reveal why you should seek help immediately.

A small liver problem becomes a big deal

In a clip with over 3.1 million views, TikTok user Crissy (@crissymrls) explains her own experience dealing with what was initially just a fatty liver.

According to Crissy, she was “diagnosed with fatty liver.” However, her primary care provider (PCP) told her not to worry about it.

“‘A lot of people have it, especially in America because of all the crap that we eat,’” she recalls her PCP saying. “‘Try to eat better, work out when you can. I'll see you next year.’”

As a result, Crissy ignored many of her symptoms for five years. Eventually, she felt a pain in her abdomen intensifying, and she reached out to a liver specialist to see if they had a method for resolving her issues. She informed the specialist of her previous diagnosis, and the specialist did blood work and a FibroScan to determine if she had any serious issues.

“Two weeks later, I got a call telling me that I had stage three liver fibrosis, which is one stage away from liver cirrhosis, which is incurable, untreatable. And it's one stage away from liver cancer,” she details. 

What is liver fibrosis?

According to Medical News Today, “Liver fibrosis occurs when excessive amounts of scar tissue build up in the liver due to repetitive or long-lasting injury or inflammation,” and it is treatable by “clearing infections, making lifestyle changes, and taking certain medications.” 

In contrast, liver cirrhosis “is permanent scarring that damages your liver and interferes with its functioning,” which “can lead to liver failure,” per the Cleveland Clinic. While symptoms can be mitigated, the Cleveland Clinic notes that “once you have cirrhosis, your liver won’t get better.”

“If you have fatty liver, please don't ignore it,” Crissy advises. “Go see a liver specialist. Get on some type of treatment, something to lose the weight. Do not ignore it.”

@crissymrls Your weekly reminder to GO GET CHECKED AIG YOU HAVE FATTY LIVER!! #fibrosisoftheliver #liverdiseaseawareness #f3 #liverdiseasewarrior #liverscarring #fattyliverdisease #fattyliverjourney #livercleanse #fattyliverreversal #livercancer #livercancerawareness #livercirrhosis #fattyliver #fibroscan #Godisgood #fypシ゚viral #gallbladder ♬ original sound - Crissy.mrlz

Commenters share their own experiences

In the comments section, users revealed their own experiences dealing with both liver issues and the medical establishment.

“Yep, lost my brother to nonalcoholic liver disease. It’s so common now,” said a user.

“I was diagnosed with stage 2 fibrosis, lost 40 pounds and now I’m a zero now, I also took turmeric,” added another. “I always thought it was my gallbladder. Praying you can reverse this.”

“Yep my sister died two years ago ago from it,” offered a third. “She complained but no one listened.”

We’ve reached out to Crissy via TikTok DM.

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Eyebrow microblading is widely reported to be a semi-permanent procedure, meaning that the tattoo will eventually completely fade.

The Beauty Ink Store reports that "microblading fades completely" after one to three years for most people. However, the time it takes to fade is dependent on a couple of factors. Those factors include "skin type, texture, pigment, blade, and how the artist did the treatment."

Las Vegas local and TikToker Stace (@freckledfacestace) shared that her microbladed eyebrows are still apparent after a whopping five years and that she deeply regrets having the procedure done.

"I am about to go into to see if I can get these red eyebrows removed," she starts, getting closer to the screen to showcase what her microbladed eyebrows look like. They appear faded but red.

Stace says the last time she got a touch up on her eyebrows was five years prior. "This is how they look now," she says. It's apparent where her real eyebrow hair ends and the microbladed area is as red outlines her real brow.

@freckledfacestace This is going to be posted in a few parts, but this one was from March of this year when i began my microblading removal. #microblading #eyebrows #microbladingremoval #lasertattooremoval #permanentmakeup #permanentmakeupremoval ♬ original sound - freckledfacestace

In a comment, Stace explained why she initially got the procedure done and called it one of her "biggest mistakes."

"I only did it bc someone made me feel bad ab my own eyebrows back when I cared ab what other ppl thought!!" she said.

In a part-two video, Stace shows the initial outcome of the first round of laser treatment. The results are already apparent. "This is more than I already expected for the first day," Stace says. "I'm happy with how it looks right now. It will continue to fade until my next appointment."

Stace also filmed what her eyebrows looks like after the second round of laser treatment. The results—again—are very noticeable. Viewers thought so, too. "I am really impressed with how much of a difference this is from where you started! I love this for you!" the top comment on that video exclaimed.

While a few of her eyebrow hairs whitened due to the laser, Stace also appears happy with the results.

Stace took these two videos in March but only just posted them. The first video was viewed over 820,000 times since it was posted on July 7.

Why isn't microblading supposed to be permanent?

"Unlike traditional tattoos, which use a tattoo gun, microblading uses a blade-shaped tool with a row of tiny, barely visible needles to create hair-like strokes along your brows while depositing pigment into your skin,” according to Cosmopolitan Magazine. 

And if you're wondering why microblading isn't permanent, that's because the pigment shouldn't go deep enough into the skin if properly applied.

Reasons why your microbladed eyebrows won't fade

Allure spoke with Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Diego, about this. Palm said that if the pigment does breach the second layer of skin, it could very well last longer than three years.

"Most microblading procedures cause some degree of light bleeding or redness. This is an indication that the dermis, or second layer of the skin, is being penetrated. Pigment placed in the dermis is far more likely to persist for long periods or even be permanent," Palm told the magazine.

Other reasons Palm and another board-certified dermatologist, Mona Gohara, MD, gave as to why microbladed eyebrows may not fade have to do with the type of pigment used and people simply reacting to things differently.

"Remember that everyone is different, with unique biology. When it comes to pigment, there are slow metabolizers, fast metabolizers, and in-between metabolizers. Some may say that they see [their microblading] fading in weeks. Others can enjoy the fruits of their brow labor for years," Gohara told Allure.

In a comment, Stace said her artist "used iron oxide pigments unfortunately."

That's likely one of the main reasons Stace's eyebrows haven't completely faded. Iron oxide pigments contain inorganic compounds, which Palm told Allure are "much more likely to persist."

The Daily Dot reached out to @freckledfacestace via TikTok comment.

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An Amazon worker and self-declared freelance labor organizer is warning people of a bedbug infestation at an Amazon warehouse in Kentucky—though Amazon is denying the allegation.

Drew D. Duzinskas, whose LinkedIn profile shows he's both a "freelance labor organizer" and Amazon fulfillment associate, put up a TikTok video on Wednesday in which he warned viewers based on a TikTok shared with him. As of Friday morning, the video has tallied more than 273,800 views.

He starts by claiming, "Apparently, bedbugs had been found at an Amazon facility in Kentucky. Someone shared a TikTok video with me from a worker from SDF9 in Kentucky, in which they claimed that on July 20, 2024, the SDF9 facility was shut down in order to inspect the facility for bedbugs. This same worker is reporting that both night shift and day shift are reporting that they have had bedbugs found in their own personal situations."

The warehouse in question is in Shepherdsville, Ky., near Louisville.

Are Amazon workers unknowingly taking home bed bugs?

Duzinskas goes on to say, "Apparently, the corporation has been telling them to go to Amcare if they feel itchiness or feel any bites. Given the fact that it's mosquito season as well as poison ivy season, can be kind of hard to tell whether or not you're getting bedbug bites or not."

While there are no recent news reports to corroborate Duzinskas' story, a Reddit post on r/Louisville made on Thursday also alleges there's a bedbug situation.

"There's an alleged beg bug scare going on this week at the Amazon facility nearby Louisville," that post said. "It's also allegedly being said that Amazon workers are unknowingly taking bed bugs home."

However, an Amazon spokesperson told the Daily Dot that two independent pest control companies checked the facilities and determined it did not have bedbugs.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, "The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) has long been a pest – feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs a public health pest. However, unlike most public health pests, bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease. They can, however, cause other public health issues, so it’s important to pay close attention to preventing and controlling bed bugs."

The article goes on to say, "Experts believe the recent increase in bed bugs in the United States may be due to more travel, lack of knowledge about preventing infestations, increased resistance of bed bugs to pesticides, and ineffective pest control practices."

What to do in case of an infestation

A CBS News article provides some tips for determining if you have bedbugs, including, "If you notice reddish stains on your bed sheets, this could be your first sign of a bed bug infestation. It's not pleasant to know this, but it's worth it to be prepared: These stains are likely the result of crushed bedbugs and an indication that you should take a closer look at your mattress."

Commenters reacted to the possibility that Amazon packages might be carrying bedbugs.

One quipped, "Shopping addiction cured!"

Someone else claimed, "SDF9 is a mostly clothing/shoe return facility. It has always been rumored to have bed bugs." The person then clarified, "Never saw one while I worked there."

The Daily Dot has reached out to Duzinskas via LinkedIn mail and TikTok direct message,

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Is there a better time of year to get sick or need surgery? One nurse seems to think so.

In a video shared to TikTok, a nurse named Asha (@ashahotcakes) calls on people to avoid hospitals if at all possible during the month of July.

Her reason? Newbies in the surgical unit could be causing more harm than good in their mission to provide health care. In her experience as a nurse, she says she has observed increases in needed surgical revisions in July to correct the work of surgical residents who are new to the job.

Should you get surgery in July?

"Don't ever get surgery in July, coming from a nurse," she says in the video. "Do not go to the hospital in July. July is when all the new residents start their surgical rotation. July is also when we have the most surgical revisions, meaning they have to go back and fix all the things they messed up in surgery because of the residents. In July, every order is wrong. Every medication is wrong. Every surgery goes wrong. I get it. They have to practice; they have to learn; they're going to mess up. Not on me, though. Every year, someone suddenly goes, 'Why is everything so messed up lately?' and someone else goes, 'It's July.' Every year, without fail, July, everything goes to [expletive]."

She then encourages surgical residents to take their time learning before scrubbing in for surgery to reduce the number of complications and issues for patients and fellow hospital staff.

"If you're a surgical resident, I don't know what they're teaching y'all; y'all are not ready in July," she says. "You're not [expletive] ready. I get that the whole program is, like, scatterbrained and [expletive], but take your time, please. I work in radiology. Every order is wrong. You can't even put in orders right. Y'all are not ready to start in July. Maybe shadow until, like, September. Try that."

The Daily Dot has reached out to Asha via TikTok direct message as well as a comment on the video.

A spike in fatalities at teaching hospitals

Asha's observations are not unfounded. Per a 2011 ABC News report, fatalities at teaching hospitals spike 10% in the month of July, when many new surgical residents will scrub in for surgery for the first time.

Patients may be asked to bring their own prescriptions to the hospital, if possible, and to choose another hospital entirely if they find their closest one has a high infection rate.

Some viewers recommended avoiding teaching hospitals and residents altogether at this time.

"Or find a non-teaching hospital," one commenter wrote.

"ALWAYS ask what role will the resident play in my procedure or surgery and/or say I want NO resident involved in my care," another commenter wrote. "July is the WORST."

"They will not practice on you without your permission!" a commenter wrote. "They always ask my mom first. You can literally say No."

@ashahotcakes

sincerely, a tired ass nurse.

♬ original sound - ❤️‍🔥 asha ❤️‍🔥

Other viewers who said they work in health care shared their own takes on the claims made by Asha about surgical residents.

"This is so misleading the order thing is true but the surgery one?" one commenter wrote. "No intern resident is ever allowed to be near a scalpel."

"LOL I’m a nurse and was just talking about this with the Dr today at work," another commenter wrote.

"I work in a hospital and my job has been super frustrating lately," a commenter wrote.

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If you feel like you’ve been paying too much for contacts, don’t worry. TikTok user Jenny Park (@mohaewithjennypark) might just have a solution for you. 

In a recent visit to the optometrist, Park saved over $1,000 on contact lenses and left with a better prescription. In a recent viral video, she describes exactly how this happened. 

The video opens on Park in her car, on-screen text floating above her head. “You could be eligible for free contact lenses!!!!” the text exclaims.

Park begins by giving viewers a piece of advice. “This is just a PSA that if you are at a doctor’s office, dentist’s office, eye doctor’s office, feel empowered to ask the questions,” she says. “I have such a hard time doing this.”

She goes on to explain that she is 31 years old and has been wearing contacts since middle school. “So for a very, very long time,” she says. Park then notes that she recently met with a “thoughtful, thorough, nice” eye doctor who gave her some life-changing information.

When are contacts 'free'?

“He told me, ‘Did you know that your eye contacts should be for free, because they are medically necessary?’” Park recounts. She says that this was entirely new information to her.

“No one has ever told me that, in all my years,” she elaborates. “And he was like, ‘Wow, I’m really disappointed no one has ever told you that.’”

“So starting now, my contacts will be for free,” Park says. “Which is crazy, because I think I spend over $1,000 a year on my contacts.”

What else did Park find out?

Free contacts weren’t the only benefit Park got out of her visit—she also found out that her previous lens prescription was inaccurate.

“Last year I went to Target Optical, just, like, a random optometrist,” she says. The Target optometrist lowered her lens prescription by half a point during that visit, and Park went along with it, despite finding it “a little suspicious.” 

“I was like, ‘Whatever, it’s fine. Like, I’m just gonna do it.’” Park says. However, when she went back to work, she regretted her decision to keep the lower prescription.

“Now that I’ve been going to the office, and I have to look at a screen far away, I notice that, like, I can never read anything,” she says. “Like, it’s always so blurry, which is why I was like, ‘I need to go to the eye doctor.’”

When Park attended her most recent appointment, her new eye doctor expressed concern about how low her prescription was. “He was like, ‘It’s really dangerous that you have been driving around with such poor prescription.’” she says. “[He said] ‘You should not be able to see with the prescription they gave you.’”

Park’s new prescription is two points higher than the one she received at Target, and she claims it works far better for her.

“I have really, really bad eyes,” Park elaborates. “So I most recently was wearing negative point five and negative six, and then he gave me negative eight and negative seven.”

“I see so crystal clear,” Park emphasizes at the end of the video. “Like, I cannot believe this is what the world looks like.”

The audience weighs in

Park’s commenters expressed skepticism and excitement. Some shared interest in applying Park’s experience to their own lives, or told similar stories.

“How do you get eligible to do this?” one commenter asked. “I want to try this.”

“Yesss my eye doctor suggested that my contacts could be free since there was such a difference in vision in both my eyes due to my astigmatism,” another commenter shared. “And they were approved by my insurance!!”

A few users tried to provide necessary context to help people understand if the policy of “medical necessity” was applicable to them.

“This is true, medically necessary contacts are fully covered by insurance BUT you have to qualify!” one user elaborated. “Must have an astigmatism over negative three or distance has to be over negative 10, something along those lines.”

“I have negative 21 and negative 17 (glasses script) & astigmatism, and was told I do not qualify for free contacts,” another user countered. “My prescription is over $1k for monthlies.”

Are contact lenses 'medically necessary' under insurance?

The reason many commenters tended to contradict each other is because different insurance providers define “medical necessity” differently. According to ReVision Optometry, an eye care center based in San Diego, California, “necessary contact lenses are a designation based on criteria set by a third-party payor.” 

To get approved for medical necessity, practitioners must submit the required documentation after an eye exam. If their assessment fits the insurance company’s definition of medical necessity, then the company will help cover the contact lenses.

ReVision also notes that the criteria for medical necessity are “are nuanced and sometimes complex." They note that it helps to work with optometrists when applying for medical necessity. 

@mohaewithjennypark If you wear contacts see if they are medically necessary and if your insurance covers!!!! And feel empowered to always ask questions to your health care provider. Blesssss to all the ones who care about their patients and take time to answer q’s!!! #lifehack #lifetips #lifeupgrades #30sontiktok #freecontacts ♬ original sound - jenny park

Experienced optometrists can “identify situations that would be otherwise overlooked to qualify for necessary contact lenses." However, it might require some prompting on your part. So, if you think you might qualify for medical necessity, in the words of Jenny Park: “feel empowered to ask the questions.”

The Daily Dot reached out to Park via TikTok and Instagram direct message.

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The post ‘I spend over $1,000 a year on my contacts’: Woman says eye doctor told her she gets contacts for free—and you might, too appeared first on The Daily Dot.

In recent years, young people have reported significantly lower alcohol consumption than previous generations.

As noted by a 2023 survey conducted by Gallup, "Young adults in the U.S. have become progressively less likely to use alcohol over the past two decades, with the percentages of 18 to 34-year-olds saying they never drink, that they drank in the past week and that they sometimes drink more than they should all lower today” than in the past two decades.

At the same time, alcohol alternatives have become increasingly popular. A 2023 PBS story stated that “sales of so-called nonalcoholic spirits, beer and wine at grocery, convenience, liquor stores and the like are up more than 40 percent in just the last two years.”

Concurrently, there’s been a rise of alcohol alternatives that still claim to create a change in state for the drinker.

These beverages can contain things like kava, which the Alcohol and Drug Foundation describes as “a depressant drug…made from the root or stump of the kava (Piper methysticum) shrub,” and kratom, which the DEA states “is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia.”

“Consumption of its leaves produces both stimulant effects (in low doses) and sedative effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence,” states the DEA fact sheet.

While these may be seen as safer alternatives for those wishing to quit alcohol, or simply consume less alcohol, they can come with their own dangers, as TikTok user Jasmine Adeoye (@jasmineadeoye_) recently noted in a video with over 934,000 views.

What is ‘Feel Free’ and can you get addicted to it?

In her video, Adeoye explains how she came to be addicted to, and eventually quit, a product called Feel Free, which is made by a company called Botanic Tonics. According to the company’s website, the product contains kava root and leaf kratom.

As recalled by the TikToker, she had discovered the product from a podcast she used to enjoy. While she initially did not care for it, describing the experiences as making her “feel nauseous, dizzy,” she says she tried it again later after seeing growing hype around the product.

“I absolutely loved how it made me feel,” she states.

As a result, she began to drink one or two per weekend; the website suggests drinking only one per day, and Adeoye says her initial consumption stayed within those boundaries.

However, as she began working in what she describes as a “toxic” environment, she found herself returning to the product more and more, increasingly going beyond the recommended dosage by a significant degree.

“One a day turned into two a day, three a day, four a day, five a day, upwards to six, seven, eight, nine per day, especially while I was at work because I felt like I couldn't have conversations unless I had this shot in my system,” she admits. “It put me in a really good mood in some really tough situations and I felt like I absolutely needed it.”

This, she says, was different from her previous struggles with addiction.

“I have never depended on something like that in my entire life,” she states. “Like, I talk about my struggles with alcohol, my binge drinking problems, my problems with smoking weed in the past, and never in my life have I become so hooked on something.”

All the while, she says she kept her addiction hidden from those around her, including her friends and fiancé. At the same time, she found herself more dependent on the shots, taking them in the car before going to social events and not being honest with others in order to keep her addiction “undercover.”

When she got engaged, she says she was at the height of her addiction. After her mom came to visit her and celebrate the engagement, she decided to stop taking them cold turkey—a decision that led to her experiencing something she compares to opioid withdrawal.

“I felt incredibly sick, dizzy, lethargic, depressed, all of the things that withdrawals from opioids entail when I woke up that Sunday morning,” she says.

Things eventually got so bad that she asked her mom to take her to the hospital; however, she did not receive proper treatment as she confessed she was not honest about the cause of her symptoms.

Finally, she says that she felt the “Holy Spirit just convinced [her]” to be honest with her mother about what was happening, including the substantial debt she went into to afford these drinks. When she did this, she says she received incredible support from her mother and fiancé, who helped guide her through her withdrawal symptoms and return her to the path of sobriety.

“I have been clean since then. The first week or so was pretty difficult withdrawal-wise, and then it got significantly better, and I just feel like a new person,” she declares. “I feel like myself again.”

Other stories of Feel Free addiction

This isn’t the first time stories about Feel Free have sparked discussion online. 

The Daily Dot previously covered a story in which an internet user claimed they began drinking several a day to the point where they felt they had become addicted. Upon searching for more information about the drink online, they came across a subreddit called Quitting Feel Free, in which users shared their difficulties ditching the drink.

“There was one guy who said, ‘I was an IV heroin user and it’s harder for me to quit these things than heroin,’” recalled the TikToker at the time. “And I’m like, what the f*ck? Like, all this from a f*cking thing that you can buy at a deli?”

@jasmineadeoye_ #addictionrecovery #krat0m #sobertiktok #sobriety #soberliving #soberjourney #addictionawareness #soberlifestyle ♬ original sound - Jasmine Adeoye

Feel Free responds

In an email to the Daily Dot, a spokesperson for Botanic Tonics said their product is not for everyone, especially for people who have issues with substance abuse.

“This is an important correction we've made from how the product was communicated when it was launched, and came as a result of listening to customers," their statement read. "Even if the people who've had trouble with the product are a small minority of the people who have tried it, this is really important for us to get right while still serving the many people who find that feel free enhances their life."

The company said they acknowledge that long-term use of the substance can lead to dependence. They state the label now includes a warning about the potential for the leaf kratom to become "habit-forming" if used irresponsibly.

"However, current scientific evidence does not clearly demonstrate the impaired functioning or compulsive use despite negative consequences that characterizes addiction," they wrote. "There is an important distinction between native leaf kratom, like that used in feel free CLASSIC, and concentrated extracts that pose greater risks of dependence and adverse effects."

The company also stated, "When reviewing the U.S. Poison Control Center Data for a wide variety of substances, normalized for 100,000 users, it is evident that poisoning calls for kratom and kava register at rates similar to energy drinks, as opposed to more deleterious substances like opioids, or commonplace substances like vitamins.”

Commenters share their thoughts

In the comments section, users supported Adeoye and thanked her for shining a light on this issue.

“Never heard of these. Thanks for sharing about it, I’ve got a teenage boy and feel like I don’t know what’s out there,” wrote a commenter.

“What’s scary is the gas station by me doesn’t even card for them.. I saw what looked like a 14 year old kid buy one easily. Made me so sad,” added another. Feel Free states on its website that “Our products are not for consumption by or sale to persons under the age of 21.”

“This is my exact story. Thought it was a ‘natural’ safe alternative. It has wrecked my life in SO many ways,” revealed a third commenter.

The Daily Dot reached out to Botanic Tonics via email and Adeoye via Instagram direct message.

Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

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The post ‘What’s scary is the gas station doesn’t even card for them’: Woman warns against ‘alcohol alternative’ Feel Free after addiction experience appeared first on The Daily Dot.

A woman issued a warning about getting LASIK eye surgery. She's urging others who are considering the procedure to not get it and look into other alternatives.

Jess Shields (@jessshiee) posted a video to TikTok that received over 86,800 views. In it, she shares the details of her experience getting LASIK. She lists the many issues she’s had to deal with since. 

She explains in the video that she got the surgery at the beginning of 2022. But ever since then, she says she has experienced “daily eye pain, severe eye dryness, floaters, … tension headaches, night blindness, … and chronic eye cysts.”

Shields says she was a perfect candidate for the surgery. She adds that everything during and right after the procedure went according to plan. She claims that she was told about the risk of eye dryness after LASIK but was also told that it would most likely go away. None of the other side effects were mentioned. 

“I kind of wasn’t expecting to have so many adverse side effects because they really make it sound like it’s rare to have issues afterwards,” she explains. She adds that almost everyone she’s spoken to since who’s also had LASIK has similar issues. 

"It genuinely has taken down my quality of life by like 20%. And there's nothing I can do about it," she says at the end of the video.

@jessshie Lasik eye surgery experience. Worst choice I’ve made. Dont do it. #lasikeyesurgery #lasik #lasikeye #lasikplus #lasiksurgery #lasikexperience #storytime #lasikreview ♬ original sound - Jess Shields

Many commenters agreed with Shields and shared the side effects they’ve had since getting LASIK.

“I got LASIK and also regret. My dry eyes are horrible. I used to never know I had eyes, just bad eyesight. Now I’m constantly reminded about my uncomfortable eyes, [especially] as the day goes on,” one person shared.

“I tell everyone this. The halos and night blindness are TERRIBLE for me. One of the worst decisions of my life and I STILL need to wear glasses at night (they hardly help though),” another wrote. 

But some commenters also claimed to have had positive outcomes with LASIK. 

One person shared, “I’m so sorry you are having all these issues! I got lasik in 2022 as well and it was the best investment I could have done for myself!”

“I had it done and I know a ton of others who have as well. I'm sorry you're not happy with yours, but I don't think your experience is common,” another said.

Who is eligible for LASIK eye surgery?

According to the Mayo Clinic, LASIK eye surgery involves the use of a laser to change the shape of the cornea in order for light to refract correctly onto the back of the eye. Candidates for the surgery should have had no major changes in their glasses prescription for at least a year prior to the procedure. They must also be 18 years of age or older. 

Patients must also be free from any corneal diseases such as keratoconus, or any autoimmune disorders, and their cornea must be thick enough for the surgeon to perform the procedure. 

Risks and complications

While the effects of LASIK should last for many years, and even decades, some patients, like Shields, report worsening eyesight a few years after getting the procedure. Patients may also still require glasses in low-light conditions.

There are also a number of complications that can arise after getting the procedure like dry eyes, experiencing halos or double vision, Blepharitis, astigmatism, corneal ectasia (when the cornea becomes too thin and weak), infections, and even vision loss. 

Complaints from other TikTokers

Since techniques and technology are constantly changing, the long term effects of LASIK are still unclear, which is why some risks are downplayed by surgeons. However, a number of LASIK patients have taken to social media to warn others of the risks they’ve experienced. 

A Gen Z patient reported that she was left with the eyesight of a 50-year old at just 22. Another woman complained that she experienced chronic pain since her surgery five years ago, and yet another said her corneas had thinned so much after her procedure, she could not get corrective surgery to fix the problem and has to test her eye annually as she’s at risk of developing corneal ectasia. 

Why one doctor won’t get LASIK

While many people have issued warnings about LASIK on social media, online users are still divided over the procedure. However, even an eye doctor recently warned that the surgery is not for everyone. 

Dr. Jovi Boparai says, ““LASIK surgery can be a great option for some patients. I’ve personally done LASIK on many patients with great outcomes. In my specific case, I haven’t had LASIK because my corneas are too thin.”

He adds, “If your corneas are too thin, it can sometimes lead to some undesired side effects.”

Other options to LASIK eye surgery

If you need corrective eye surgery but aren’t sure about getting LASIK, there are other options you can consider. 

In Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), instead of reshaping the cornea, the top surface called the epithelium is removed. PRK can have longer recovery times than LASIK, but it can be a better option for those with thin corneas.

Small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a newer type of procedure that uses a laser to create a lens-shaped tissue below the surface of the cornea, and reshape it in that way. 

Intraocular lenses, which are corrective lenses surgically inserted in the eye, are yet another option. This procedure is routinely a part of cataract removal surgery and is a good option for older adults. 

Update: Shields told the Daily Dot that she was 24 when she got the surgery had no health issues at the time.

"One of the things that led me to get the surgery was not having easy access to eye care and how expensive contact lenses are," she shared. "I thought it would save me a ton of time and money. Unfortunately now, I have tons of new issues and I really wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who wants it out of convenience.”

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The post ‘It has taken down my quality of life by 20%’: Woman issues warning about LASIK eye surgery appeared first on The Daily Dot.