DOH asks public not to resort to common myths to cure sore eyes

The Department of Health advised the public against resorting to common myths and non-scientific, non-medical methods to remedy sore eyes, the cases of which usually spike during the summer.

In Susan Enriquez's report on GMA News' Balitanghali, Saturday, the DOH  discouraged people from putting drops of mother's milk, calamansi or even pee in your eyes.

According to DOH Undersecretary Dr. Eric Domingo, the milk simply feeds the bacteria more and ensures that the bacteria multiplies.

On the other hand, a drop of calamansi is acidic and therefore harmful to the tissues of the eyes and might even cause a viral infection.

Pee, Domingo said, could contain infection that just adds more bacteria to the eyes.

Instead of performing these, patients should have their eyes checked by a doctor, he said.

Domingo also discouraged people with sore eyes from swimming as these would only spread the virus through the water.

"Kung may sore eyes e 'di 'yung luha mo tiyak 'yung muta andiyan sa tubig lumulutang-lutang kasama ng virus at 'pag nag-swimming ang isang taong walang sore eyes pupunta sa mata mo 'yan at mahahawa ka. Minsan kumpol-kumpol na mga kaso," he said.

However, Domingo assured the public that only a few cases of sore eyes have been reported so far.

According to him, sore eyes normally heals without medication within five days to a week.

He said, "Ang pinaka importante i-isolate ang sarili mo from others para walang hawaan." — Kaela Malig/MDM/KG, GMA News