Breast milk and urine don't cure sore eyes — eye doctor

With the rainy season making more people susceptible to most viral infections, the head of Philippine-based American Eye Center on Sunday warned against using a mixture of breastmilk and urine to cure conjunctivitis, commonly known as sore eyes. “Using breastmilk and urine on the eye are common myths that should be avoided because these may cause secondary bacterial infection like gonorrhea and chlamydia," said ophthalmologist Jack Arroyo in a statement. He added that over-the-counter medications that contain steroids may actually worsen the ailment, which is caused by a virus that spreads during the rainy season. “Steroids can cause glaucoma, a blinding disease, in susceptible individuals. Patients are advised to consult an ophthalmologist for proper diagnosis and treatment," he said. He said there’s no actual fast solution to “sore eyes" or viral conjunctivitis since a person with such condition has just to ride through the usual “recovery period" of seven to 10 days. He added that cold compresses and artificial tears only reduce discomfort because there is no cure for viral conjunctivitis. "[Viral conjunctivitis] is self-limiting, lasting 7-10 days but with some amount of variability depending on the viral strain, said Arroyo. Arroyo also said proper hygiene can prevent the spread of the infection. Individuals with sore eyes should also use tissues instead of handkerchiefs to wipe their eyes. —With Sophia Dedace/VS, GMANews.TV