Experts warn against eye drops touted online as cure‑all
- Published on February 17, 2026 at 03:51
- 2 min read
- By Najmi Mamat, AFP Malaysia
Health experts warn no single type of product can treat all kinds of eye diseases, refuting false social media advertisements circulating in Malaysia touting a brand of eye drops. They advise patients with vision problems to seek help from professionals to avoid delays in treatment.
"The glare is gone. Even when driving, my eyes no longer feel sore from glare. My vision is clearer when I use (this product)," says a Malay-language voiceover in a TikTok video posted on February 3, 2026.
The clip features a bottle of eye drops with its box packaging giving the product's name as "Penawar Mata Homeopathy" -- claiming it had received a laboratory certification.
The video goes on to list the product's ingredients as "zam zam water, natural honey, saffron and betel leaf extract", and claims it helps stimulate and activate eye muscles and nerves.
Zam zam water comes from a well in the Grand Mosque in the holy Muslim city of Mecca. Malaysian authorities previously said no company had obtained a licence for its sale in the country (archived here and here).
Similar posts claiming the product can help cure serious eye conditions including astigmatism, cataract and pterygium have circulated since 2024 and continue to surface in 2026 on TikTok as well as Facebook.
But Ahmad Fadhullah Fuzai, the president of the Association of Malaysian Optometrists, told AFP no reliable scientific studies in optometry or ophthalmology have proven that such eye drops can safely or effectively treat serious eye problems (archived link).
"No single eye drops can cure or treat all these diverse eye diseases, especially without robust human clinical trials and regulatory approval," he said on February 3.
He went on to say that relying on these products can delay evidence-based treatment for conditions like cataract, glaucoma or pterygium, allowing disease progression that may become irreversible.
"Even without immediate harm, a false sense of security can cause patients to miss the window for effective treatment, leading to worsening vision and lasting damage."
"The safest option is to seek care from qualified eye professionals."
Muhamad Syukri Mohamad Rafiuddin, a consultant optometrist from MATA by Optometrist, similarly urged patients suffering from serious vision problems not to delay seeking care from qualified optometrists.
He cautioned anyone considering alternative remedies or eye drops should first consult a medical professional (archived link).
"Many eye drops are made as cosmetic products," he told AFP via WhatsApp on February 4.
"In fact, all eye drops should be properly tested before use, as the eye's delicate tissues can be harmed by unsuitable substances that may damage tear glands and worsen eye conditions."
There is no record of the touted product in Malaysia's National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) database, indicating it has not been approved by Malaysian health authorities (archived link).
AFP has previously fact-checked misinformation related to consumer safety in Malaysia.
Aminah Farid contributed to this report.
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