Millions of Brits wear them every day.
But now an anti-glasses influencer claims that people with poor vision don’t actually need lenses to see.
Samantha Lotus, a self-described “holistic master coach” in Canada, said vision problems are caused by “mental,” “emotional” and “spiritual” reasons that “can be cured.”
The 35-year-old is promoting an $11 (£8.80) class that offers ‘holistic multi-dimensional healing’ for people with vision problems.
But experts attacked the quackery and warned Ms Lotus’s claims were not based on evidence or science and were potentially harmful.
Samantha Lotus, a self-proclaimed ‘holistic master coach’, said vision problems are caused by ‘mental’, ’emotional’ and ‘spiritual’ reasons that ‘can be cured’
In a video shared to her TikTok account, which is now private, Ms Lotus said: ‘What’s the one thing your optometrist doesn’t want you to know?
‘The fact that you don’t need glasses.
“That’s right, you may have been told that you need glasses, but that’s actually a lie.
“There are mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual reasons why you may not be seeing anymore and I’m here to tell you that that can be healed.”
In the video’s caption, she claimed that she has “reversed” her need for glasses and has helped others do the same.
She told her followers that she was offering a two-hour masterclass that would “blow their minds” and was available to those who are “ready to really see” and “open to holistic multidimensional healing.”
She added, “If you have a closed mind and want to remain a victim, then this is NOT FOR YOU.”
In other videos, she claims to have seen people “take off their glasses and no longer need them.”
Twitter user @this_is_mallory, who wears glasses and attended the ‘Vision Healing Masterclass’ offered via Zoom by Ms Lotus, exposed the bizarre ‘methods’ that the TikTok star claims will ‘cure poor eyesight’.
The Twitter user shared photos from the class, which was attended by more than 100 people, in which Ms Lotus showed a slide stating that she is not medically trained.
But she then went on to explain her “holistic approach” to vision healing, which includes spiritual, mental and physical activities.
According to the NHS, contact lenses and laser eye surgery are the only ways to see.
One of Ms. Lotus’s spiritual recommendations was to practice “eye affirmations,” such as “my eyes are healthy and see clearly.”
She also told attendees to visualize their eyes as healthy, try Reiki – a form of Japanese alternative medicine – or prayers to “balance the energy flow around your eyes,” as well as meditation.
Among mental steps to improve eyesight, her slides suggest that eye problems are caused by an event that affects vision, causing people to “adopt the belief” that they cannot see. As a result, people must ‘process old emotions’ and ‘choose to see’.
Those with vision problems should also practice physical healing by reducing stress, taking breaks from screens, staying hydrated and exercising.
She also encourages those who cannot see well to apply essential oils around their eyes.
Opticians called Ms Lotus’s advice dangerous and unsafe.
Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, a clinical consultant at the College of Optometrists, told MailOnline that Ms Lotus’s ‘holistic techniques’ are not evidence-based.
Samantha Lotus, 35, from Canada, has doubled down on her claim that she can correct people’s poor eyesight with ‘holistic, multi-dimensional healing’
The Twitter user shared photos from the class, which was attended by more than 100 people, with Ms Lotus showing a slide saying she is not medically trained.
But she then went on to explain her “holistic approach” to vision healing, which includes spiritual, mental and physical activities
He said: ‘I can’t see anything based on evidence. There is no evidence or science to suggest that these methods would work at all.”
Ms Hardiman-McCartney said he is concerned the Canadian is giving people “false confidence” because those who think their eyesight has been healed may try to drive without glasses, putting lives at risk.
There are only two proven ways to correct poor vision, according to Giles Edmond, director of clinical services at Specsavers.
Mr Edmond told MailOnline: ‘The first is to wear corrective lenses, such as prescription glasses or contact lenses prescribed by an optometrist.
‘The second is to undergo a laser correction procedure to change the shape of the front of the eye.
‘We recommend that anyone with vision problems make an appointment with an optometrist.’
Other opticians have also debunked Ms Lotus’s claims, stating that there is no evidence to support these claims.
Tina Patel, optician at Feel Good Contacts, said: ‘If your optician has advised you to use corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) to help you see better, then no form of eye yoga or mediation is possible. to change that.
‘There is no evidence to show that holistic approaches can cure your vision.’
Eye experts revealed that Ms Lotus’s advice is not only based on myths but could also be harmful to people with poor eyesight.
Roshni Kanabar, clinical adviser at the Association of Optometrists, told MailOnline: ‘It is a myth that wearing glasses can weaken your eyes, and it is potentially harmful to claim that people who have been prescribed glasses or contact lenses do not wear them. Do not need.’