Pink eye, otherwise known as conjunctivitis, is a relatively common infection of the conjunctiva. Although it is not exactly harmful and goes away in a matter of days without treatment, pink eye is highly contagious and very uncomfortable. It generally affects only one eye but it can spread to another if rules of hygiene and cleanliness are not followed.
Some its symptoms include:
- Excessive tearing
- Eye redness, swelling, and itchiness
- Constant pain
- Crust formation
- Bright light intolerance
- Discharge that are clear white (allergic or viral) or yellowish-greenish (bacterial)
To ease you of these discomforts that go along with this infection, here are some home simple remedies that have shown to help in easing them.
- Ice Pack. Although this does not cure the infection, it does a wonderful job in decreasing redness, swelling, and itchiness. Just dampen a cloth with cold water and place it over your closed eyelid.
- Honey and milk. Mix and warm up equal parts of honey and milk and use it as an eye wash using a cup or cotton ball. This can also be used as an eye drop or compress.
- Coriander. Get a handful of dried coriander then boil it in water. After some minutes, strain the liquid, let it cool, and use it to wash the eye or as a compress.
- Hot compress. This will aid with the discomforts of pink eye. To enhance its effect, add in some drops of chamomile, lavender, or rose oil.
- Fennel seeds. Boil fennel seeds then strain the liquid to be used as a wash for the eye. This will help in easing the redness, inflammation, and pain.
- Apple cider vinegar. Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one cup of water and wash your eye with it with the use of a cotton ball.
- Potato. Slice one raw potato and put this on for three successive nights.
- Turmeric. Mix 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder with a cup of boiled water and use this as a compress for the eye.
- Aloe vera. The juice of an aloe vera may be used as a compress or eye wash. You may add half a teaspoon of boric acid to act as a preservative.
- Lemon juice. Place lemon juice in the affected eye through a clean finger. You will experience some stinging but this will help in oozing out pus.
- Salt. Add some salt to boiling water and use it as an eye compress with the use of a cotton ball or clean cloth.
- Yogurt. Put poultice yogurt over the infected eye.
There are still many other home remedies for pink eye. Some of them include:
- Rose water as eye drop
- Elderberry blossom tea as eyewash
- Boric acid as eye wash or hot compress
- Chamomile teabags as compress
- Marigold as compress
- Breast milk as eye drop (for infected infants)
- Cold slice of bread over eye
Amy C. is a health blogger, writing about the most popular home remedies to treat common health conditions. She also works for Lasik Houston, blogging about Houston Lasik surgery and Houston Lasik surgeons. For more of her simple and practical remedies, make sure that you tune in to her next post.