Turmeric has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional wellness practices, and today it is often promoted as a powerful natural remedy for inflammation and other health concerns.
One viral claim takes things much further, suggesting that a simple turmeric drink can wipe cataracts from older eyes in just two minutes, allowing people to throw away their reading glasses.
That claim is not supported by medical evidence.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It develops when proteins and other structures in the lens change and become cloudy. As the cataract progresses, vision can become blurry, hazy, faded, or more difficult at night.
There is currently no proven turmeric drink that can dissolve or remove a cataract in minutes.
What Is a Cataract?
A cataract is not simply a buildup that can be washed away with a drink.
The lens sits inside the eye and normally allows light to pass through clearly. With a cataract, the lens becomes cloudy, making it harder for light to reach the retina properly.
Age is the most common factor, although diabetes, smoking, previous eye injury, certain medications such as steroids, and other factors can increase the risk.
Common symptoms include:
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Difficulty reading
- Increased sensitivity to glare
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Colors appearing faded
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription
- Halos around lights
Can Turmeric Remove a Cataract?
There is no reliable clinical evidence that drinking turmeric can remove an established cataract.
Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound that has attracted considerable scientific interest. Laboratory and early human research has investigated curcumin for several potential health effects, but NCCIH notes that there is not enough evidence to definitively conclude that turmeric or curcumin provides benefits for most of the conditions for which it is promoted.
More importantly, NCCIH reports that no dietary supplements are recommended for the treatment of cataracts.
So while turmeric can certainly be included in a normal diet, it should not be presented as a cataract treatment.
What Actually Treats Cataracts?
According to the National Eye Institute, surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract.
However, surgery isn’t necessarily required immediately. When cataracts are mild, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, magnifying lenses, or an updated glasses prescription may help with everyday activities.
When a cataract begins interfering significantly with activities such as reading, driving, or watching television, an eye doctor may recommend cataract surgery. During the procedure, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens.
What About the Claim That You Can Throw Away Your Reading Glasses?
This is also misleading.
Reading glasses correct certain focusing problems, particularly age-related changes in the eye called presbyopia. A cataract is a different problem involving clouding of the natural lens.
Some people may notice temporary changes in how clearly they see from day to day, but this does not mean a turmeric drink has reversed a cataract or permanently eliminated the need for glasses.
If your vision suddenly seems better or worse, an eye examination is much more useful than assuming that a home remedy has changed the cataract.
A Simple Turmeric Drink
If you enjoy turmeric as a food or beverage, you can make a simple warming drink without presenting it as a medical treatment.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk or water
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- Small pinch of black pepper
- ½ teaspoon honey, optional
- Small piece of fresh ginger, optional
- A pinch of cinnamon, optional
Directions
- Warm the milk or water without bringing it to a vigorous boil.
- Stir in the turmeric and optional ginger and cinnamon.
- Add a small pinch of black pepper if desired.
- Let the drink cool slightly.
- Add honey for sweetness if desired.
- Stir well and enjoy.
This can be a pleasant way to include turmeric in your diet, but it should not be used instead of an eye examination or cataract treatment.
Does Turmeric Have Any Potential Health Benefits?
Turmeric and curcumin have been studied extensively. Some early research suggests potential effects related to inflammation and other health conditions, but the evidence varies considerably depending on the condition, preparation, and dose.
For example, NCCIH says that preliminary research on oral turmeric or curcumin for osteoarthritis has produced some positive findings, but higher-quality research is still needed before firm conclusions can be made.
That is very different from proving that turmeric can reverse cataracts.
Important Safety Information
Turmeric used as a normal culinary spice is different from taking concentrated curcumin supplements.
Oral turmeric can cause side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, acid reflux, diarrhea, or constipation. Some highly bioavailable curcumin formulations have also been associated with liver injury.
If you take prescription medicines, have liver or gallbladder problems, are pregnant, or are considering a concentrated turmeric supplement, discuss it with a healthcare professional first.
When Should You Get Your Eyes Checked?
Don’t wait for a home remedy to improve worsening vision.
Arrange an eye examination if you notice:
- Increasingly blurry vision
- Difficulty reading despite your usual glasses
- Significant glare or halos
- Trouble driving at night
- Sudden changes in vision
- Double vision
- New flashes or a sudden increase in floaters
- Eye pain or sudden vision loss
Sudden loss of vision or a major change in vision requires urgent medical evaluation.
The Bottom Line
Turmeric can be a flavorful and nutritious spice, but the claim that a turmeric drink “wipes cataracts off older eyes in two minutes” is not supported by medical evidence.
Cataracts involve clouding of the eye’s natural lens, and the National Eye Institute identifies surgery as the only treatment that actually removes the cataract.
Enjoy turmeric as part of a balanced diet if you like it, but don’t use a turmeric drink as a substitute for an eye examination or recommended cataract treatment.
When it comes to your eyesight, a promising viral claim should never replace proper eye care.