A bizarre social media trend involving putting drops of honey in one’s eyes to improve vision is leaving people screaming in pain.
The ‘trick’ consists of using Jimerito honey from Morocco, which according to its proponents can combat eye infections, dry eyes and even chronic diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Jimerito honey, which sells for up to $80 (£62) a bottle on US wellness sites, is said to have “antimicrobial and antibacterial properties”.
But online videos of people using the “drops” show people having violent reactions, and opticians have urged people not to follow the trend as there is no evidence of any health benefits.
Social media user @dtalkaline, who posts about herbal remedies on TikTok, shared a video with her 350,000 followers of a woman screaming in pain after trying honey eye drops.
Social media user @dtalkaline, who posts about herbal remedies on TikTok, shared a video with her 350,000 followers showing a woman screaming in pain after trying honey eye drops. The video, titled “giving my friend the $200 honey eye drops,” claims the eye drops help “clearen vision,” “increase vision range,” and “correct tinnitus.”
In another video that has over 6,240 likes, a man screams in pain after trying the drops for the first time. He claims the drops “sting a little bit,” but says the “results are worth it.”
In a post shared by @tiandrawilde, she is seen trying out the honey eye drops, which she said made her eyes “itchy.” She told her 5,400+ followers that although she was “using them for the first time,” “everything looks so fresh” after using the honey.
The video, titled “Giving My Friend the $200 Eye Honey,” claims the eye drops help “clearen vision,” “increase range of vision,” and “fix ringing in ears.”
The same account posted another video that has more than 6,240 likes, of a man screaming in pain after trying the drops for the first time.
She says the drops “sting a little,” but says the “results are worth it.”
A post shared by TikTok user @celph_love, who has over 68,000 followers, shows her trying out the product and also experiencing pain as a result.
“I feel like my eye has been given a detox,” she says in the video, followed by footage of her wondering if it’s “supposed to burn,” adding, “it stings.”
He also claims that it is “supposed to cure any type of vision problem you have.”
However, TikTok has placed a warning on this video stating that “participating in this activity could result in injury to you or others.”
In another post shared by @tiandrawilde, she is seen trying out the honey eye drops which she claims made her eyes ‘itch’.
She told her more than 5,400 followers that although she “used it for the first time,” “everything looks so crunchy” after using the honey.
As well as offering a host of benefits, including healing cataracts and glaucoma, users of the drops claim they can get rid of floaters (small, harmless dark spots in your vision) and dry eyes. Although dry eyes often cause itchy, sore eyes, it’s usually nothing serious, according to the NHS.
Placing a drop of Jimerito honey in each eye will cause a stinging sensation that will stimulate the tear ducts. This is believed to help remove mucus from the nasal cavity behind the eyes and relieve dry eye symptoms. But opticians strongly advise against this practice.
Among the countless purported benefits, users of the drops claim that they can eliminate floaters (small, harmless dark spots in vision) as well as dry eye syndrome.
This occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, resulting in symptoms including a painful, gritty feeling in the eye.
IPeople who praise the drops online say that honey contains a special glucose molecule called trehalulose, which helps cells retain moisture.
Some also claim that the stinging sensation stimulates the tear ducts, helping to “clear mucus” from the nasal cavity and, in doing so, relieve dry eye symptoms.
Even more surprising, others claim the drops can “cure” cataracts (when the lens of the eye, a small clear disk, develops cloudy spots) and relieve glaucoma (a common eye disease in which the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, is damaged and can cause blindness).
The “antibacterial properties” of the drops may also help with conjunctivitis, which causes pus and red eyes usually as a result of an infection or allergy, sometimes known as pink eye.
However, speaking to MailOnline, experts say these claims do not stand up to scrutiny.
While honey has anti-inflammatory properties, there is no clear evidence that putting honey on your eyes helps fight infections.
In fact, there is no evidence that Jimerito honey can have any beneficial effect on the eyes.
“I wouldn’t recommend putting honey in your eyes as it can cause burning and general discomfort,” warns Tina Patel, contact lens optician at Feel Good Contacts.
‘Honey cannot improve eye conditions such as floaters or dry eyes.
“Speak to your local optician if you experience any uncomfortable or worrying symptoms in your eyes and remember to visit at least every two years for a general check-up,” she added.
Optometrist Bryony Allen, from Specsavers, also warns that we should save honey for “cakes, sweets or toast” and not our eyes.
She told MailOnline: ‘Floaters, cataracts and glaucoma are all conditions related to the inside of the eye, and while there are eye drops for glaucoma, which reduce eye pressure, most other types of eye drops do not reach the eye through the cornea or conjunctiva, the outer layers of the eye.’
She added: ‘There have been studies looking at the use of honey to control or treat eye infection (conjunctivitis) or dry eyes because honey has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties.
‘However, there is no clear evidence that it is effective and there may be harmful side effects, including stinging and redness after applying honey.’
In short, reserve honey for cakes, sweets or toast and if you have any concerns about your eyes, speak to a professional such as an optician.
