Pink eye or conjunctivitis, is one of the most common eye infection. When conjunctiva, a thin transparent covering the eyeball is inflamed, the eye experiences irritation, becomes swollen and reddens. This air borne disease spreads from person to person through direct contact is called "sore eye" in layman language.
Pink eye symptoms are easily noticeable as the eyeball and insides of eyelids become inflamed. The eye starts to itch and then turns red, followed by watery secretion. In some cases, pus is also formed, which dries up especially when one sleeps making the eyelashes stick together.
The few known causes of sore eyes are mostly bacterial or viral infection, eye-strain, working in dim lighted conditions, allergic reaction to some substances in the air or causal contact like a handshake, etc, with someone whos infected.
Simple practices like washing hands with antiseptic soap, avoiding the using towels or anything else of the person infected, using clean cloth or tissue to clear the eye discharge, wearing protective eye gear and screens in places where welding occurs and avoiding chemical irritants and allergens, etc. can be put in use to avoid spreading the disease.
To speedup the recovery process and ease the discomfort in the eye, try some of these home remedies
Application of warm compress over the eye for 10 minutes or so, three to four times in a day soothes the inflamed eye.
Use cotton balls dipped in clean water to wipe the crusts in and around the eyes and eyelids will help the healing process.
Warm compress works fine with kids and even adults, but for those (adults only) who have excess discharge should mix baby shampoo and warm water in the ratio of 1:10. Clean the eye and eyelashes with soft cotton ball dipped in this solution. Warm water softens and loosens the crusts and shampoo cleans the area around it.
Boil handful of dried coriander in warm water to make an excellent eye wash. It provides relief burning and lessens the pain and swelling.
Another home remedy for pink eye. Mmake a poultice of grated potato and place it on affected eye. Instead of potato, try grated apple. The condition should clear up in 2 or 3 days time.
Boric acid eyewash can be used to clean and soothe the eyes.
Warm tea bags placed on the eyes eases the discomfort of conjunctivitis.
Herbal eyewash made with 2 tsp chamomile flowers steeped in 2 cups of boiling water is a good substitute for eye drops. Chamomile tea bags placed on the eye soothes the itchiness.
For infants experiencing pink eye, dab the babys eye with freshly expressed breast milk, 2-3 times for few days and see the difference.
Eyebright is known to be best herb for treating the pink eye as it has excellent cleansing and strengthening properties. Mix few drops of eyebright tincture with 1 cup boiled water, cool and strain. Dip a cotton ball in this eyewash and gently wipe the eye and its surrounding area.
A cup of Indian gooseberry juice mixed with 2 tsp of honey taken twice daily is useful in treating conjunctivitis.
Goat milk yogurt poultice applied to the infected eye daily brings relief.
Home Remedies For Pink Eye
Pink eye is a condition for which the eye or eyes experience an acute conjunctivitis characterized by the redness in the eyeball and the eyelids. This is known to be the resultant of too much stress in the eyes' small nerves, which then triggers the inflammation of the entire eyeball. Another known cause of this ailment is the bacterial infection that may inflict the eye tissues. This eye disorder is airborne and contagious.
In the tropical areas, people are more prone to developing pink eye (sore eyes) during summer. Usually, they tend to cover their eyes with dark eyeglass, believing that this would stop the scattering of the bacteria, thus diminishing the transmission effect of the airborne bacteria.
Moreover, a simple home remedy for pink eye includes the use of the ingredient salt, water and cotton balls. It is wise that this salt and water solution be first applied once the first symptoms of the skin disease occur.
First, water must be boiled in a pan. Then set aside to warm. After this, add considerable amount of salt then stir. Afterwards, put the cotton balls into the bottom of the pan, wait until the boiled water cools down to normal room temperature. It is important that the cotton balls are sunk deep into the liquid in order to get as much salt as they may absorb. Following this, get one of the wet cotton balls.
Lie down, facing upwards. Close your eyes and place the salted cotton balls on top of your infected eye. Remain in this position for about 5 minutes. The salted water will penetrate into your eyes, this will hurt a bit but hold on for this process is designed purposely to kill the infection. You may even see the running salt on the surface of your eyes, but this is not harmful. This home remedy for pink eye is known to be one of the simplest yet among the most effective.
Quite a number of pink eye patients claim that tea bags work especially well for most sore eyes cases, specifically the black tea bags. This solution may also be combined with some amount of honey.
You may either ball the tea bag or soaked it in a hot glass of water. If you are to use honey, pour the ingredient after the water boiled (a glass of water will do). Mix the solution.
Prepare some pieces of tissue paper fold them into 1 by 3 inches strip. Wash your hands and dip the corner of the folded tissue paper, afterwards squeeze a few drops of the mixture into the infected eye.
An alternative manner in doing this is to place the tea bag on the top of your sored eyes for several minutes. Both processes may hurt a bit, producing a little discomfort but continue doing this for two minutes. You may feel that the area surrounding your eyes may fill quite sticky, but don't rinse it for five minutes. Repeat this procedure for two days and you will feel better and will see clearly after the treatment. This may also save your eyes from further infections.
On the other hand, another home remedy for pink eye may need the use of a few pinches of coffee boiled in small amount of water. Drop some of this solution on your infected eye. Allow the coffee mixture to glide don through your eyeball. You may experience some dryness on your eye tissue this is normal. After a few minutes, rinse your ayes with tap water then add considerable amount of eye drops.
Both Kevin Pederson & Sandra Stammberger are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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