The Rise of Dangerous Ocular Fads on Social Media

An experienced eye surgeon is raising the alarm about a growing phenomenon: teenagers turning to TikTok for health advice instead of doctors, parents or pharmacists. Dr Maxime Delbarre, a refractive and cataract surgery specialist based in Montpellier, says social media algorithms reward shock value and surprise—not accuracy. This has allowed dangerous ocular trends to rack up millions of views and be copied by young people who trust visibility over expertise.

Two trends highlight the problem. One involves cutting or shaving off eyelashes, something that has no medical benefit and actually removes the eye's first line of defense against dust and foreign bodies. The other involves buying ultra-cheap counterfeit sunglasses promoted by influencers. Many adolescents assume these products protect their eyes, but tinted lenses without proper UV filters can dilate the pupil while letting harmful radiation through, increasing exposure rather than reducing it.

Dr Delbarre notes that the real issue isn't just these two examples but a broader shift: for many teenagers, a thirty-second video weighs more than a medical consultation. An unknown influencer can seem more credible than a specialist solely because of their follower count. The doctor warns that, with eye health, mistakes can leave permanent consequences long after a trend disappears from the feed.

Why a Viral Video Isn't a Medical Consultation

How Social Media Became a First Resort for Health Advice

For a large portion of teenagers, the phone has replaced the doctor as the initial source of medical information. Algorithms don't differentiate between a reliable public health message and a dangerous fad; they promote whatever garners engagement. The result is that false or harmful content can outcompete accurate advice purely because it is more sensational. As Dr Delbarre points out, virality has become a misplaced proxy for trustworthiness.

The Unseen Damage of Counterfeit Sunglasses

The counterfeit sunglasses problem illustrates a particularly insidious danger. When a lens is dark but lacks a UV filter, the eye's pupil dilates to let in more light, inadvertently allowing more damaging ultraviolet radiation to reach the retina. The wearer believes they are protected, so they stay in the sun longer, compounding the risk. This 'invisible danger' is hard to correct because it undermines the basic trust users place in a product.

Eyelash Removal: No Benefit, Real Harm

Eyelashes serve a critical protective function—they filter dust, reduce airflow onto the eye's surface and help prevent infection. Cutting them offers no medical benefit and only increases the risk of irritation, inflammation and chronic discomfort. That such a practice could go viral among millions of teenagers shows how easily social media can override basic biological safeguards.

How to Protect Young Eyes from Misinformation

For parents and guardians: In everyday conversation or during a medical visit, ask a straightforward question when your child mentions a viral trend: Who is providing this advice, and on what basis? This prompts critical thinking about the source of information rather than accepting it at face value.

For health authorities: Dr Delbarre argues that societies savantes and public health bodies need to produce short, engaging content directly on the platforms teenagers actually use—TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts—rather than relying on channels they no longer consult. The message must meet them where they are.

For platforms: The doctor calls for genuine enforcement of content moderation rules around health advice. Allowing pseudo-medical videos to thrive while algorithmically deprioritising authoritative sources puts adolescent health at risk.

The underlying point is clear: we teach children to cross the road safely; we must now teach them to navigate social media with the same caution. Unlike a viral video, eyes are not replaceable, and the consequences of a trend can last a lifetime.