The latest dangerous social media craze has TikTokkers rubbing castor oil into the eyes to promote eye health, but specialists warn that the risks aren’t worth any minimal benefits.
The vegetable oil has long been considered an effective home remedy, used as a laxative, a moisturiser and as a chest rub to ease lung congestion. But now some TikTokkers claim they’re using it to treat vision problems, reports NBC.
Dozens of videos that have received millions of views show people rubbing castor oil over their eyelids, across their eyelashes and under their eyes in efforts to treat issues like dryness, floaters, cataracts, poor vision and even glaucoma.
Castor oil, produced by pressing the seeds of the castor bean plant, has been used for thousands of years in traditional and folk medicine to treat a range of issues, from bronchitis to skin infections.
It’s considered safe to take as a laxative, but because of potentially severe side effects like vomiting and dizziness, is not widely used anymore.
That hasn’t stopped TikTokers from promoting it. One woman insisted that after two weeks of use, she no longer needs to wear reading glasses as often because castor oil has helped her vision. Another said it helped prevent an eye infection from progressing and got rid of her floaters, the strands of gel-like fluid in the eye that cast shadows on the retina.
Castor oil’s moisturising properties make it a common ingredient in over-the-counter eye drops. However, those products are specifically formulated and tested to treat eye dryness, doctors say. The castor oil on store shelves is not intended for use in the eyes and may contain preservatives, dyes, fragrances or other ingredients that can cause irritation or infection.
There is limited research that eye drops formulated with a low concentration castor oil mixture help with dry eyes and blepharitis, or inflammation of the eyelids. But the studies are of low quality, experts say, involving small sample sizes and no control groups.
“We just can’t make a recommendation for something that has very little evidence behind it,” said Dr Ashley Brissette, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. “Castor oil is not a cure-all. If you have concerns about your eyes, you need to see an ophthalmologist.”
What it can’t do for eye health
Castor oil has no effect on cataracts, an age-related condition that causes cloudy vision, floaters or glaucoma, which occurs when fluid accumulates and damages the optic nerve, said Dr Vicki Chan, a practising ophthalmologist.
“These conditions occur inside the eyeball,” Chan said, “so even if you put a drop of castor oil on your eye, it’s not going to seep in and dissolve or fix anything.”
Castor oil does make a great moisturiser though, Brissette said. It contains ricinoleic acid – a type of fatty acid that prevents water loss through the skin – which is why it’s found in soaps, cosmetics and lotions.
So if castor oil gets into the eyes, that moisturising may explain why some people feel as if it’s improving vision, Brissette said. “Your eyes need to be hydrated to see clearly, and one of the biggest complaints of dry eye disease is actually blurry or fluctuating vision.”
There are also claims that castor oil helps promote eyelash and eyebrow growth, but no studies to date have tested the theory.
Although it’s safe for external use, putting castor oil that isn’t sterile directly in the eye may cause infection, warned Dr Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, an ophthalmologist with the National Eye Institute.
Other eye risks include, irritation, allergic reactions, adverse interactions with eye medications, discomfort and inflammation.
And don’t replace medications and other treatments with castor oil with the hopes that you can “cure” your condition more naturally, Brissette said.
Ignoring glaucoma medication, for example, can lead to permanent vision loss. Or waiting to see if castor oil improves cataracts instead of opting for timely surgery could make them more difficult to remove and increase the risk of surgical complications.
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