Ophthalmic health communication in the video-based social media era: A narrative review of information quality, engagement dynamics, and professional education.

With the rapid ascent of video-based social media, platforms like TikTok and YouTube have become primary sources of ophthalmic health information, shaping both patient perceptions and professional development. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from 76 empirical studies to evaluate the quality and reliability of ophthalmic video content. We identify a persistent engagement paradox, where algorithm-driven metrics such as view counts and shares often favor simplified, emotionally resonant, or visually striking narratives over medically accurate and balanced counseling. Clinician-produced content generally showed higher clinical integrity in the included studies, but it often received lower engagement than peer-led experiential narratives. Beyond patient-facing education, we explore the emerging role of video platforms as professional-facing education for residents, highlighting the risks of survivor bias in unedited or curated operative footage. Furthermore, the visual-centric nature of ophthalmology introduces unique ethical challenges, particularly regarding the anonymization of recognizable facial features and the permanence of digital consent. As Generative AI introduces new risks of sophisticated deepfake misinformation, this review emphasizes the urgent need for multi-modal assessment tools and active professional stewardship to ensure the integrity of digital eye care.