FACT CHECK: PGH, Charo Santos not promoting lutein gummies to cure eye problems
Claim: The Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences posted an advertisement featuring actress Charo Santos promoting lutein gummies to cure eye and vision problems.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: A Facebook page claiming to be the PGH’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences posted the video advertisement on April 16. As of writing, the video has garnered 1.1 million views, 8,300 reactions, and 2,400 comments.
The video displayed text of a supposed letter addressed to Santos. In the letter, a person sought advice regarding their ailing mother with a cataract. In response, Santos is shown saying that she also used to experience blurry eyes and had tried various eye drops and supplements with little success.
She then claims that a doctor from PGH endorsed a “natural product” that cured her eye problems with no side effects. The advertisement then directs consumers to buy the product at a discount through a link posted in the caption.
The facts: The video has been manipulated. A reverse image search revealed that the original video of Santos, posted on her official Facebook account on February 13, shows her reading a letter from someone with a romantic partner issue. She was offering advice, not endorsing a product.
Fake page: The source of the claim is a fake Facebook page impersonating PGH. Its content was merely copied from the official page of PGH’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The fake page was created on March 24, 2025, and has 330 followers.
In a March 13 statement released on its official Facebook page, the PGH reminded the public that it does not endorse any supposed health product.
“Huwag maniwala sa fake news at false advertisement na nagpapakilalang konektado sa University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital,” it added.
(Do not believe fake news and false advertisements claiming to be connected to the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital.)
Fake website: The link provided in the advertisement’s caption redirects users to a fake website. This deceptive website contains dubious information about eye conditions and purported cures, product recommendations, and fabricated reviews from doctors and consumers. It also includes a supposed order form that requires buyers to input their name, phone number, and address, potentially exposing them to phishing attempts. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing).
Not FDA registered: The specific product named “Nature’s Key Lutein Gummies” promoted in the advertisement is not included on the Philippine Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of registered products.
The FDA has also previously issued a warning against unregistered lutein and zeaxanthin dietary supplements.
Debunked: Rappler has previously fact-checked a false claim involving Santos supposedly endorsing an unregistered health product.
The PGH has also been the target of fake pages with false claims:
- FACT CHECK: PGH, Filipino physician not advertising cream for hemorrhoids
- FACT CHECK: Fake Philippine General Hospital page promotes arthritis ‘cure’
- FACT CHECK: PGH, DOH not endorsing ‘nutritional milk’ for liver disease
- FACT CHECK: PGH not endorsing a milk drink to cure hepatitis
- FACT CHECK: Fake UP-PGH page posts AI-edited bone and joint pain ‘cure’ ad
– Lyndee Buenagua/Rappler.com
Lyndee Buenagua is a third year student journalist based in Baguio and an alumna of Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024.
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