A round-up of the eye-related hot topics that have been trending on social media over the last few weeks.
SkinCancer #Sunscreen #Tax
Malignant lesions of the lids are a common finding on any oculoplastic theatre list, with NHS spending on skin cancer exceeding £500 million annually [1]. A campaign to remove tax on sunscreen ‘#AXEtheSPFtax’ has been launched by Jessica Zbinden-Webster, a young woman diagnosed with skin cancer at only 26 years old who spoke of her experience resulting in complete removal of her lower lid on ITV’s This Morning [2]. She argues the Treasury should follow the example of the USA and Australia who do not tax sunscreen, meanwhile goods such as chocolate chip cookies and kangaroo meat are taxed 0% VAT in the UK and SPF protection is subject to almost 20% tax. This story raises important questions about health economics and preventative medicine. Watch out for updates on her campaign, and in the meantime remember your SPF over the summer!
#RobinMillar #Disability #Tribunal
Sir Robin Millar CBE, a pop producer who has collaborated with artists such as Sade and Boy George, has issued proceedings against the owners of the music business he co-founded due to being denied a support worker to assist his work following cancer surgery [3]. Sir Millar has been a lifelong advocate for disability rights having been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as a child and being blind since 1985. He serves as the chair of Scope, one of the UK’s largest disability charities. He asserts “inclusion is not charity, and it is not political correctness. It is good leadership, good culture and good business.”
#AnneHathaway #Cataract
Fans of The Devil Wears Prada movies such as myself were surprised to hear the actress, Anne Hathaway, developed an early-onset cataract in one eye in her 30s [4]. On the New York Times podcast, the Princess Diaries star expressed gratitude for her cataract surgery and the return of her vision, explaining the immense stress caused by her visual impairment and its resolution as a “miracle.” Whilst many see cataract surgery as the simple ‘bread and butter’ surgery of ophthalmology, stories like this are an important reminder of the huge positive impact they can make on patients’ lives.
#JohnCena #Mites #YouCan’tSeeMe
John Cena’s iconic catchphrase “You can’t see me!” implies invisibility. Unfortunately for him, if the microscopic mites living on his eyelashes could speak, they would say that too. The actor and former WWE wrestler has shared he has long struggled with Demodex blepharitis, a condition characterised by redness, itching and crusting [5]. These mites are commensal to human skin and hair but when they rapidly multiply, often due to immunocompromise or other skin conditions, they can cause unpleasant effects. Demodex blepharitis affects millions worldwide but is often mistaken for alternative diagnoses such as allergies. A simple slit lamp exam showing collarettes is sufficient for diagnosis and treatment involves lid hygiene measures and topical treatment [6]. Thankfully, Cena’s vision is back to normal, and he is using his platform to raise awareness of this condition.
#CosmeticSurgery #BlephLady
Next is a story which made my stomach churn. Luyen Vu is TikTok’s resident ‘Liverpool Bleph Lady’, offering dirt-cheap unregulated blepharoplasties (amongst other surgical cosmetic procedures) from a flat above a Thai restaurant in Liverpool [7]. An undercover investigation by 5 News revealed a secretive operation organised entirely through WhatsApp, with locations only being revealed a day or two before, no conversations regarding medical history, dirty workspaces, and it all being paid in cash. If you’re wondering how this has managed to go on, you may be surprised to find out there are few existing legal frameworks in place to stop these illegitimate cosmetic surgery practices, as the Medical Act of 1983 does not explicitly forbid it. Organisations such as the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and British College of Aesthetic Medicine have called for tighter regulations but despite claims made by Wes Streeting to crack down on it, little has changed. Ms Vu’s cheap-as-chips surgical offerings have taken social media by storm with multiple copycats popping up across the UK.
#WorldCup #Haptics
It’s the summer of sport with the 2026 FIFA Men’s Football World Cup taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA has pledged for this to be the most inclusive World Cup yet, not just in the number of participating nations but also the accessibility of ‘the beautiful game’ to fans. Audio-descriptive commentary will be available for all matches plus the opening and closing ceremonies in English, French and Spanish. This service will describe key details usually missed by standard commentary such as facial expressions, body language and movement of the ball. Furthermore, after a successful trial at the Club World Cup, haptic devices will be available for visually impaired fans to translate real-time movement into tactile and auditory sensation [8].
#RolandGarros #Tennis
Finally, keeping with the sporting theme, this year’s French Open Tennis Tournament saw the use of a device called GiveVision. It is described as a wearable headset assisting those with significant visual loss, acting as a live-streamed magnification device [9]. This breakthrough in accessibility in tennis echoes advancements made at the Australian Open earlier this year where MatchFeel, a haptics device, was used for the first time [10]. This device uses a magnetic ring to trace the movements of the ball across the court and vibrations convey speed and direction. These exciting new features will allow visually impaired tennis fans to engage better with the iconic tournaments. Stay tuned to see whether Wimbledon can compete!
References
1. www.skcin.org/resources/vat-burn-campaign
2. www.unilad.com/news/health/woman-eyelid
-removed-skin-cancer-mistook-blocked-pore-228233-20260520
3. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/21/blind-uk
-pop-producer-robin-millar-legal-action-disability-rights
4. www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/
anne-hathaway-reveals-she-legally-222245551.html?guccounter=1
5. www.newsweek.com/john-cena-demodex-blepharitis
-mites-health-condition-diagnosis-11952962
6. www.eyenews.uk.com/features/ophthalmology/
post/demodex-blepharitis-a-transatlantic-comparison
-of-treatments-available-in-the-uk-and-us
7. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/29/
backstreet-plastic-surgery-britain/
8. https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/news/accessibility
-world-cup-2026-disability-social-inclusion
9. www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/page/roland-garros
-for-all-commitments-inclusion-solidarity
10. www.infosys.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/
bring-ai-first-experiences-accessibility-ao2026.html
[Links last accessed June 2026]
Declaration of competing interests: None declared.
