Here’s how to avoid getting a parasitic eye infection from a common bedroom habit that millions of people use

A doctor has shared some tips on avoiding getting a parasitic eye infection caused by a widespread sleeping habit. When setting boundaries with pets, most of us are guilty of allowing our four-legged friends to jump onto our beds and sofas, even though we tell ourselves we'd never do that. It's time to say goodbye to nighttime dog cuddles. However, one eye doctor is keen to remind us why it's important to set boundaries with our beloved dogs. This info comes from Dr. Dan Friederich, an eye doctor who also offers tips on eye care and other medical advice. One of his videos recently went viral after Dr. Friederich revealed that he can often tell if a person allows their dog to sleep in the same bed as them due to the appearance of parasites in their eyelashes. That's pretty grim. In the video, he says it happens "more often than you might think" when spotting parasites such as Demodex in people's eyes. "There is a common mite called Demodex that we see in the eyelashes as a parasite. "As soon as I see it in someone's eyes, I always ask, 'Do you sleep with your dog at night?'" he explained. That's a common cause of having these parasites in your eyelashes. What are Demodex bugs, and how can I get rid of them? Dr. Friederich also mentioned that we all have small amounts of these bugs living on our skin, which is a pretty sobering thought. You don't want to add any bugs from your dog to your skin because they can cause eye irritation, blurred vision, and even eye infections. If you're one of those people who let their pet pooch share the bed and want to know how to protect yourself from getting an eye infection, don't worry. There are plenty of ways you can make your bedsheets sparkling clean. Demodex is found naturally on our skin, but having too many can be irritating. If you're dealing with eye infections because you let your pet sleep in your bed, treat your bedding and clothes the same way you would if they were exposed to fleas. This means you can either wash and tumble dry at a really high temperature or seal the items in an airtight plastic bag to kill the bugs before washing them as normal. Alternatively, consider getting a cat since they don't carry the same parasite risk.