These viral TikTok eye-care hacks have partial truths but could pose real dangers for those who try them. Experts weigh in.
There’s a growing and concerning trend of people trying TikTok hacks in a bid to cure visual impairment. According to WHO, more than 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of visual impairment, so it’s not surprising that millions turn to social media “hacks” instead of trusted eye care from experts. These eye health myths will invariably cause more harm than good in the long run, so experts weigh in on what the long-term health concerns could be.
Experts at Overnight Glasses break down three viral myths that actually contain elements of truth, but can do more harm than good if misunderstood. Millions are trying these “hacks” right now, but few realise the real risks hidden behind the partial truths.
Myth one: Putting castor oil in your eyes can fix floaters or replace glasses
TikTok has millions of views on videos claiming that plain castor oil drops can “dissolve” eye floaters, cure dry eyes completely, or even replace the need for prescription glasses.
What’s partly true:
Cold-pressed, pharmaceutical-grade castor oil is sometimes included in lubricating eye drops. Studies show that adding castor oil to artificial tears can help relieve mild dry eye by stabilising the lipid layer, which reduces tear evaporation (NCBI, 2018).
“Castor oil can mildly relieve dryness when properly formulated and sterilized, but it cannot dissolve floaters or change your prescription. Using raw castor oil at home can irritate the cornea and raise the risk of infection,” notes the optometrist.
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Myth two: Pinhole glasses can permanently strengthen your eyes
More than 45 million TikTok views focus on pinhole glasses as a “natural” fix for blurry vision and a way to “train” your eyes back to 20/20.
What’s partly true:
Pinhole glasses work by blocking indirect light rays and forcing light to pass only through tiny holes, which improves depth of field — like squinting. They can help people with refractive errors see more clearly while they wear them.
“Pinhole glasses do improve sharpness temporarily for some conditions, but they do not retrain the eye or fix the shape of the cornea. They’re useful in eye exams, but you cannot strengthen eye muscles this way.”, the expert clarifies.
Myth three: Sungazing improves eyesight
A growing number of online videos — some with over 20 million combined views — claim that briefly gazing at the rising or setting sun each day will naturally sharpen vision and “cleanse” the eyes.
What’s partly true:
Natural daylight helps regulate circadian rhythms and supports overall health. For example, morning sunlight exposure has been shown to improve sleep quality and mood by triggering melatonin production cycles.
“Brief outdoor light exposure is healthy, but staring directly at the sun can permanently burn the retina, increase cataract risk, and worsen macular degeneration. No evidence shows sun-gazing reverses vision problems – in fact, it does the opposite.”, says the expert at Overnight Glasses.
The expert takeaway
“Trendy shortcuts often sound convincing because they mix a grain of fact with a lot of fiction — but eyesight is too important to gamble on DIY tricks. Protect your vision with trusted care, proven treatments, and professional advice instead of risking damage from untested online hacks,” notes the expert.
