Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims all eye problems, including Glaucoma and myopia, can be treated using a homemade eyedrop from bitter kola. We fact-checked and found this claim to be Half true.
The Claim
A Facebook post reads, “HOW TO TREAT ALL EYE PROBLEMS USING BITTER COLA NATURALLY 100% EFFECTIVE…
STEPS ON HOW TO USE BITTER COLA TO TREAT ALL EYE-RELATED PROBLEMS WITHIN 21 DAYS..”
The post further explains the preparation process for the eyedrop.
Fact Check
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerve, which is essential for vision. It is one of the major causes of blindness in adults over the age of 60, and it is caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. According to a study, around 57.5 million people have glaucoma, which is estimated to go up to 111.8 million by 2040. It is the second biggest cause of blindness, and the blindness caused by glaucoma is generally permanent.
How is Glaucoma treated?
Glaucoma treatment is aimed at reducing pressure in the eye. Various types of treatment are followed for glaucoma, depending upon the condition, including medicines (usually eye drops), laser treatment, and surgery.
Remember, if a person has glaucoma, starting treatment immediately is essential. Treatment won’t undo any damage to your vision, but it can prevent it from worsening.
What is Myopia?
Myopia, also called near-sightedness, is a common eye-focusing disorder. It is a condition when close-up objects are clearly visible but when distant objects are blurry. It occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea (the clear front cover of the eye) is too curved. Because of this, the light entering the eye isn’t focused correctly, and distant objects look blurred.
How is myopia treated?
There are various options that a patient has to correct vision problems, such as myopia. These options include eyeglasses, contact lenses, Ortho-k or corneal refractive therapy (CRT), Laser procedures such as LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) or PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), vision therapy, and other refractive surgery procedures.
Can an eyedrop made with bitter kola treat eye problems such as Glaucoma and myopia?
Not exactly. There is a lack of credible evidence to prove that eyedrops made with bitter kola, scientifically known as Garcinia kola, treat eye problems such as Glaucoma and myopia. Scientific research generally recommends bitter kola for consumption and not to be applied.
Bitter kola is a flowering plant found in Central and West Africa. In Africa, traditionally, G kola is considered to aid in managing various diseases, such as diabetes, malaria, analgesics, hypertension, and other numerous ailments due to its several beneficial properties. However, the studies on its benefit on the eye are scant. Research states that oral ingestion of G. kola lowered the intraocular pressure of healthy young adults by 21%. The researchers further believe that such an effect might have a therapeutic benefit to patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension in areas where there is resource deficiency.
However, another research which studied the efficacy of Garcinia kola 0.5% Aqueous Eye Drops observed that there was a reduction in intraocular pressure. But, this research needs further studies in order to consider Garcinia kola eye drops as a therapeutic aid. Furthermore, the side effects of G. kola on the eye are also needed to be evaluated.
Our Ophthalmology expert, Dr. Aftab Alam clarifies this by stating, “Scant research shows that bitter kola has some role in treating glaucoma, but no data suggest any benefits in other eye diseases. However, even in glaucoma, the research seems helpful only to a certain extent. If anyone is experiencing any eye problems, such as myopia or glaucoma, instead of opting for home remedies, one should consult an ophthalmologist to prevent any further damage and get the necessary treatment done as soon as possible. Also, in cases where the damage is irreversible, these remedies are highly unlikely to work.”
The treatment for any eye disorder is decided as per the condition of the patient. Any single eye drop won’t be a cure for all eye diseases. In cases of any permanent damage, it can’t be reversed with the use of topical aids. The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns of not using any unprescribed aid by stating that “Never put anything in your eye that isn’t made to go in your eye.”
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