Manipulated clip of Filipino doctor used to promote unregistered eye drops

A video shared on Facebook on October 13, 2024 shows a man who introduces himself as a "board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist" in the Philippines. 

He goes on to describe pterygium, also known as surfer's eye or "pugita" in the Philippines. It causes a thickening of tissue on the eye's surface that can grow large enough to block a person's vision (archived here).

The most common risk factor is prolonged exposure to UV rays from sunlight (archived link).

For treatment, the doctor in the video purportedly recommends a product named "Blueberry Eye Drops."

"It has a special lubricant that removes surfer's eye and gives relief to our vision," he goes on to say. 

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Screenshot of false Facebook post taken on October 24, 2024

The same video was viewed over nine million times after it was shared on Facebook here and here.

Comments on the posts appear to have been curated to promote the product.

One said it helped cure their cataracts, a different eye condition which can only be treated through surgery.

Another said, "Oh wow, my pterygium has disappeared! Thank you blueberry, legit, super!"

However, the video has been digitally manipulated.

Fabricated endorsement

A reverse image search coupled with keyword searches found the original video on YouTube (archived link). 

It was posted by board-certified eye doctor Doms Dator on March 8, 2023. Its title in Tagalog reads, "How can you make pugita disappear? (Pterygium/Pinguecula)."

Dator discussed the symptoms, possible causes and treatments of the two similar eye conditions. A review of the six-minute clip shows the doctor did not mention "Blueberry Eye Drops".

"I do not endorse, nor do I have any affiliation with, the product 'Blueberry Eye Drops'. The video circulating online is misleading and uses my image and voice without my consent," he told AFP on October 17. 

Below is a screenshot comparison of the altered video (left) and the YouTube clip (right):

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Screenshot comparison of the altered video (left) and the YouTube clip (right)

The management of pterygium is "typically conservative at first," Dator said.

Initial treatment options for mild cases include "lubricating eye drops and protective measures such as wearing sunglasses with UV protection or a hat to minimize exposure to ultraviolet light," he added.

Dr Sharlene Noguera, a cornea and external diseases specialist, clarified that not all eye drops are lubricating. She recommends consulting specialists and asking pharmacists to recommend products that can be bought without a prescription.

"These can make patients comfortable and might even slow down the progression of pterygium. But once it's present, it will no longer disappear on its own. Only surgery can remove that," Noguera told AFP on October 16.

"So it's not true that there's a product that can melt away pterygium."

The doctors noted that surgery is only advised when the condition already causes visual impairment, or when a patient wants it removed for cosmetic reasons.  

A keyword search in the Philippine Food and Drug Administration's database, did not find a registration for "Blueberry Eye Drops" as of  November 2, 2024 (archived link).

AFP has debunked products that make false claims about treating eye conditions.