About one in five adults with eye conditions said they had come across treatments they considered bogus, and nearly 58% of those learned about them through online advertising, according to a survey published in JAMA Ophthalmology on September 24. About a quarter of those who encountered such offers went ahead with the treatment, and some reported spending more than £10,000.
The findings matter for older adults and the relatives who help them make medical decisions. Conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and inherited retinal disease can take vision slowly, and many have limited treatment options. That combination of fear, hope, and scarce answers makes patients a target for clinics selling unproven cures.
