10 Home Remedies For Pink Eye
Pink eye is a term used to describe the appearance of eyes affected by conjunctivitis. Viruses are the main cause of pink eye, although bacteria are also responsible for some cases. Pink eye may also occur as a result of exposure to allergens or other irritants.
Pink eye can occur at the same time as throat or respiratory tract infections. Poor hygiene, including wearing contaminated or poorly cleaned contact lenses, can worsen the condition or even be the starting point of pink eye.
If you have pink eye, you may need to visit an eye doctor. Alternatively, you can use some of the following 10 home remedies for pink eye to get relief from the condition.
Home Remedy #1: Stop Wearing Contact Lenses
Because pink eye may arise due to several causes, including allergic reactions and infections, it can help to eliminate any possible source of the causative agents. One recommendation toward reducing the irritation that may be responsible for the pink eye is to take a break from using contact lenses.
Your contact lenses may be harboring bacteria, viruses, or allergens, causing eye inflammation. Therefore, removing them, and cleaning them thoroughly or disposing of them, in the case of disposable contact lenses, is highly recommended. Alongside contact lenses, a change of the cleaning solution is also advisable. You can keep off contact lenses until you recover from the pink eye condition.
Home Remedy #2: Minimize Exposure to Allergens
Since exposure to some reactive substances or allergens can cause pink eye, minimizing such exposure can be the ultimate solution to controlling the condition. If you notice that you get pink eye when you make a change in your grooming habits or the environment, try to identify the possible allergens causing this reaction.
The allergen may be in your make-up, perfume, type of clothing material, or a dusty, smoky environment. Seasonal allergies brought about by various flowering plants may also lead to pink eye. In such a case, you may need to get anti-allergy preparations or medications to help you out.
Home Remedy #3: Use Eye Drops
Bacterial and viral infections are the most common causes of pink eye besides allergic reactions. While a viral pink eye must run its course just like a common cold, bacterial pink eye can be treated using antibacterial eye drops, which you can get from most chemists.
Take care when placing the eye drops into the infected eye so that the tip of the vial does not touch the eye. Similarly, avoid touching one eye and then handling the other eye without first washing your hands. Failure to observe these basic hygiene steps can lead to cross-infection between eyes, which can delay recovery from the pink eye condition.
Home Remedy #4: Rest
Rest is one of the most effective measures that can speed healing when you are suffering from pink eye. This works on the same basis as taking a rest when you have a common cold or flu. Your body needs to re-energize and boost its immune function in order for it to fight off infections and maintain good health.
Additionally, when you rest, you reduce exposure of your eyes to potentially allergic agents or environments that may worsen your condition. Moreover, when you have pink eye due to infections, you do not want to spread it to other people. And by taking some time off to rest and recover, you also keep your friends safe.
Home Remedy #5: Neem Oil
Neem oil comes from the neem tree, which has many medicinal benefits and is used as a traditional remedy for a variety of conditions. Neem oil is a soothing and anti-inflammatory agent. And since pink eye presents with inflammation and discomfort, these properties come in handy for its management. Neem oil also has antibacterial properties and, therefore, can help to resolve pink eye caused by allergic reactions or bacterial infections as well.
To use neem oil as a home remedy for pink eye, simply apply a few drops into your eye and on the eyelids at the time of going to bed. You can do this every evening until you get some relief from pink eye.
Home Remedy #6: Disinfect Home Surfaces
Pink eye, especially when caused by infections, can easily spread from one person to another, the same way a common cold spreads. It is, therefore, important to institute plans to prevent potential spread within the home set-up. One approach is to disinfect accessible hard surfaces within the house as much as possible.
Strict adherence to personal and communal hygiene in the house can also help control pink eye infections among people staying in the same house. You should also ensure that your household changes and cleans pillows, bedsheets, and towels regularly. Also encourage everyone to wash their hands whenever they touch their eyes to control further spread.
Home Remedy #7: Honey and Chamomile
When mixed, honey and chamomile make a powerful combination that can help in fighting pink eye. Honey contains not only soothing properties, but also has an antimicrobial effect. It can, therefore, inhibit growth and proliferation of disease-causing microorganisms. This means that honey can help decrease the irritation and discomfort characteristic of many cases of pink eye.
On the other hand, chamomile has chemical substances that can help counter inflammation as well as aid in soothing the eyes. Chamomile also promotes healthy skin. Applying a mixture of honey and chamomile oil to the eye and eyelids can help speed up your recovery from pink eye.
Home Remedy #8: Turmeric
Besides spicing up your food, turmeric can help you treat pink eye. Turmeric has established inflammation-lowering properties for which reason it is used in the management of many health conditions. Other properties of turmeric supported by research studies include its ability to inhibit growth of bacteria and viruses. Cumulatively, these activities make turmeric one of the most powerful and yet easy-to-use home remedies for pink eye.
Simply measure out two tablespoons of turmeric powder and add it to a cup of boiled water. Soak a piece of a clean washcloth in the mixture and apply as a warm compress over the eyes. You can repeat this procedure regularly until the discomfort and pain associated with pink eye disappears.
Home Remedy #9: Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is another suitable home remedy for the treatment of pink eye. There are many studies that have reported findings supporting the virility of aloe vera’s medicinal properties. Aloe vera can lessen the impact of inflammation as well as fight bacterial and viral infections. These characteristics are the reason why using aloe vera gel can help bring relief from pink eye caused by multiple factors. Moreover, aloe vera supports the healing process, which is an additional advantage in the treatment of pink eye.
To use aloe vera as a home remedy for pink eye, simply apply the gel to the eyes and eyelids twice a day until the condition is resolved. There are studies on human eye cells that have reported the effectiveness of aloe vera in treating inflammation and other eye conditions.
Home Remedy #10: Apply Cold or Warm Compresses over the Eyes
You can lessen the irritation and inflammation that accompanies pink eye by applying compresses to the eye. Cold compresses have specifically been found to relieve the swelling and discomfort brought about by pink eye caused by allergic conjunctivitis. In case the pink eye also presents with production of sticky discharges that may cause eyelids and eyelashes to stick together, a warm compress is useful in cleaning out the eyes.
To use compresses as home remedies for pink eye, use a piece of clean cloth soaked in cold or warm water. Apply gentle pressure around the face and over your eyelids in alternating cycles until you get some relief.
