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| - Last Updated on June 13, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that putting morning saliva in the eyes can help get rid of glasses. The video suggests using morning saliva for eyesight improvement. We did the fact check and found this claim to be False.
The Claim
According to an Instagram post, putting morning saliva in the eyes can improve your eyesight and even remove spectacles. The video features Acharya Manish.
Fact Check
Who is Acharya Manish?
Acharya Manish is a self proclaimed wellness coach. He is the founder of Shuddhi Ayurveda, a chain of wellness centres that is said to offer Ayurvedic treatments and natural health solutions. He seems to promote natural and traditional healing methods and most of these methods lack scientific evidence.
What does morning saliva contain?
Saliva is a complex bodily fluid composed mostly of water (about 98%). But, it also contains essential substances such as electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes. Some of the key components include:
- Water: The major constituent water help to dissolve substances and help in their transport.
- Electrolytes: These include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphates, which help maintain the mouth’s pH balance.
- Enzymes: Important enzymes include amylase, which begins the digestion of starches, and lysozyme, which has antibacterial properties.
- Mucous: Mucins in saliva help to lubricate food and aid in swallowing.
- Antimicrobial Compounds: These include substances like immunoglobulins, which help fight off infections. One such antibody is secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) which acts as a first line of defence against pathogens.
Morning saliva is sometimes considered unique because it accumulates overnight without the interference of food or drink. However, its composition does not differ significantly from saliva produced at other times of the day. There are no unique medicinal or therapeutic properties in morning saliva that would impact vision.
What are the benefits of morning saliva?
The benefits of saliva are well-documented but are primarily related to oral health. Some of these benefits include:
- Oral Hygiene: Saliva helps clean the mouth by washing away food particles and bacteria, thus preventing dental caries and gum disease.
- Digestion: Enzymes in saliva start the digestive process by breaking down starches into simpler sugars.
- Lubrication: Saliva moistens food, making it easier to chew and swallow.
- Taste: It dissolves food particles, which are necessary for the taste buds to function properly.
- Protection: Saliva contains antibacterial agents that protect against infections and helps in the healing of oral wounds.
These benefits are important for maintaining oral health, but they do not translate to any improvement in vision or eye health.
Why do we need glasses?
Glasses help correct refractive errors in the eye. Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing directly on the retina. The most common types include:
- Myopia (Nearsightedness): The eye is too long, or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light to focus in front of the retina. This makes distant objects appear blurry.
- Hyperopia (Farsightedness): The eye is too short, or the cornea has too little curvature, causing light to focus behind the retina. This makes close objects appear blurry.
- Astigmatism: The cornea or lens is irregularly shaped. This causes light to focus on multiple points or not at all, leading to distorted or blurry vision.
- Presbyopia: Age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus on close objects due to the hardening of the lens.
Glasses correct these problems by focusing the light onto the retina, allowing for clear vision.
Can morning saliva really help in getting rid of glasses?
No, morning saliva cannot help get rid of glasses. There is no scientific evidence supporting the idea that morning saliva for eyesight improvement works. Moreover, it has any properties that can improve vision or correct refractive errors. Vision problems are primarily due to the shape and structure of the eye. These issues cannot be corrected by applying any external substance, including saliva.
Refractive errors need proper diagnosis and treatment from eye care professionals. Methods for correcting vision problems include glasses, contact lenses, and surgical procedures like LASIK. None of these methods involve using saliva. Because it lacks any components that could influence the physical structures involved in vision.
Medical professionals and researchers have extensively studied eye health and vision correction. No credible study supports the claim that saliva, morning or otherwise, can alter the eye’s structure or improve vision. This claim likely persists due to anecdotal reports and misunderstandings about the body’s capabilities. Therefore, morning saliva for eyesight does not have any medical significance.
What does an ophthalmologist say?
Dr Isha Agarwalla, an Ophthalmologist, from Drishti Netralaya, Dibrugarh, Assam, offered her expertise, “As an ophthalmologist, I can confirm that there is no scientific basis for the claim that applying saliva to your eyes can reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses. Vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are usually due to the shape of the cornea or the length of the eyeball, and these cannot be altered by saliva. Proper eye care and regular check-ups with a qualified eye specialist are essential for maintaining eye health and managing vision correction. Using unverified methods can pose serious risks and delay treatment for your eyes and overall health.”
How to remove specs permanently?
For those seeking to reduce or eliminate their dependency on glasses, here are several proven ways:
- LASIK Surgery: Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) reshapes the cornea using a laser, allowing light to focus correctly on the retina. This procedure is effective for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): Similar to LASIK, PRK involves reshaping the cornea but does not create a corneal flap. Instead, the outer layer of the cornea is removed and then allowed to regenerate after the reshaping.
- Lens Implants: Intraocular lenses (IOLs) can be used to replace the eye’s natural lens. This method is often employed for cataract surgery but can also correct severe refractive errors.
- Orthokeratology: This involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. This can improve vision during the day without the need for glasses.
For accurate and effective vision correction, always rely on science backed medical care and be careful of the misinformation from social media. Some social media sources propagate superstition and health misconceptions. So, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist instead of depending on morning saliva for eyesight improvement. They can provide a thorough examination and recommend appropriate treatments based on individual needs. Avoid relying on unproven and potentially harmful remedies like using morning saliva for eye health. These methods lack scientific backing and can delay proper treatment, potentially worsening vision problems.
In conclusion, the claim that morning saliva can help get rid of glasses is false. Hence, relying on morning saliva for eyesight improvement is not recommended. Vision correction requires scientifically proven methods and professional guidance. Always seek advice from qualified healthcare providers for any eye-related concerns.
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