Greece sounds alarm over fake eye therapies: From iridology to 'no-glasses' exercises
The death of Giorgos Mazonakis — one of the most popular Greek singers of the past three decades — has set alarm bells ringing in the Greek scientific community, which sees "revolutionary" practices putting...
The death of Giorgos Mazonakis — one of the most popular Greek singers of the past three decades — has set alarm bells ringing in the Greek scientific community, which sees "revolutionary" practices putting patients' lives at risk.
Prompted by the recent tragic events that shocked public opinion and brought to light the dangers of using unsubstantiated "treatments", the Hellenic Ophthalmological Society (HOS) is sounding the alarm and urging people not to trust practices that lack scientific backing.
The HOS warns that so-called "miracle" therapies, pseudo-diagnostic methods and unproven procedures are not merely ineffective. In some cases, they can lead to wrong diagnoses, delays in receiving appropriate treatment, serious complications or even permanent damage to vision.
In the sights of the HOS are, among others, "iridodiagnosis", "exercises" that promise to do away with glasses, various unapproved preparations and "regenerative" therapies advertised online, as well as cosmetic interventions performed on healthy eyes.
Iridodiagnosis: a method with no diagnostic value
The so-called "iridodiagnosis" or "iridology" claims it is possible to detect diseases of various organs of the body from the appearance of the iris of the eye.
However, according to the HOS, controlled scientific studies have repeatedly shown that the method does not have diagnostic accuracy greater than would be expected by chance.
The risks, as the Society points out, are significant: a false "diagnosis" can cause unjustified fear and lead to unnecessary or potentially dangerous "treatments". Conversely, false reassurance can delay the diagnosis of a real and serious disease.
"Exercises" that promise to eliminate glasses
In the same vein, the HOS warns about "eye exercise" programmes promoted as a way to treat myopia, presbyopia or astigmatism.
These particular claims are not supported by scientific evidence, as refractive errors are linked to the anatomical and optical characteristics of the eye and cannot be corrected by such exercises.
There are, of course, specific orthoptic exercises used in certain disorders of binocular vision. These, however, form part of targeted management and are recommended only after an appropriate diagnosis and medical assessment.
"Miracle" treatments and products from the internet
The HOS urges particular caution regarding "treatments" that promise spectacular or "miraculous" results without having been evaluated in controlled clinical trials and without the necessary approval from the competent authorities.
Among these are, for example, the so-called "regenerative" injections and various products advertised as capable of "reversing" ageing of the eye.
At the same time, the HOS discourages buying eye products online without prior medical assessment and prescription, where one is required.
Even pharmaceutical substances with proven action, such as certain eye drops that can temporarily improve near vision in people with presbyopia, are not suitable for everyone. Prior ophthalmological examination is necessary, as in specific patients they may cause serious adverse effects.
Changing eye colour: not a simple cosmetic procedure
Particular care is also required with procedures that promise permanent cosmetic changes to eye colour.
As the HOS stresses, these are not simple aesthetic interventions but surgical procedures on healthy eyes. Some techniques, such as the placement of cosmetic intraocular iris implants, have been linked to serious and irreversible complications.
Anyone considering such an operation must first receive full information from an eye surgeon about the potential risks and complications.
Good vision does not mean healthy eyes
The HOS also reminds the public that a full ophthalmological examination is a medical act carried out by an ophthalmologist in a legally operating clinic.
A simple measurement of visual acuity does not equate to a comprehensive eye examination. Good vision, moreover, does not rule out the presence of serious eye disease or even systemic illness.
Conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment and eye tumours can coexist with satisfactory visual acuity and go undetected without a full ophthalmological check-up.
Finally, the HOS urges people to treat with particular scepticism any promise of a "miracle" cure, rapid recovery or abolition of the need for glasses when it is not backed up by reliable scientific evidence.
When it comes to eye health, information should come from ophthalmologists and authoritative scientific sources, not from advertisements, social media posts or websites promoting unproven "treatments".
