Introduction
Conjunctivitis, also called sore eyes or pinkeye, is a common inflammation of the eyes, which happens with everyone at least once in a lifetime. During this condition, the eyes become reddened and may itch or pain, with profuse watering. Conjunctivitis generally begins with one eye. It is a very distressing condition for the person, as there is a constant urge to rub the eyes, which can cause the infection to spread to the other eye also.
There are many factors that can cause conjunctivitis in people:-
(i) Both bacteria and viruses can cause infections in the eye leading to conjunctivitis.
(ii) Conjunctivitis can be caused due to allergies. Some common allergens are cosmetics used on the face, spectacles, lenses and even certain foods and drugs.
(iii) Some toxic fumes and flames, plant saps and chemicals can cause inflammation of the eyes.
(iv) Xerophthalmia, a condition caused due to prolonged deficiency of vitamin A, can cause chronic conjunctivitis. However, this is a very rare condition, and it is quite different from the normal pinkeye conditions.
Conjunctivitis is very infectious. It can spread from one person to other by simple contact especially if the fluids from the eye of a diseased person pass on to the eyes of a healthy person. For this reason, conjunctivitis can very fast convert into an epidemic. All due precautions must be taken when a person develops conjunctivitis.
When conjunctivitis occurs, the following are some of the symptoms that are observed:-
(i) The eyes become reddened.
(ii) Generally the eyes water profusely. But in some cases, the eyes may remain dry also.
(iii) There is an uncomfortable tingling sensation felt in the eyes, as if some sand has entered the eyes.
(iv) There is swelling in the eyes.
(v) There is a whitish-yellow secretion given out from the eyes.
(vi) The vision can become obscured.
(vii) The person is not able to bear bright lights and in some cases, may find difficulty in even opening the eyes.
Home Remedies for Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a very painful condition. Though it lasts only for a few days, it causes severe distress to the person, and there is a danger of infection to other healthy people also. Hence, there must be all due precautions taken. The following are some remedies meant to be done at the household level in order to treat conjunctivitis.
- Take a bowlful of cow's milk and soak a wad of cotton in the milk. Then sprinkle some powder of potash alum on the cotton. Put this wad on the inflamed eyes. This reduces the itchiness and redness of the eye in a very short time. This is one of the best home remedies for conjunctivitis.
- Put some jaggery in water and keep it overnight. In the morning, take this piece of jaggery in a cloth and strain it. Drink the water that is obtained. The more it is strained, the better the quality of the water will be. Drinking this water is considered to be a very simple and at the same time effective remedy for conjunctivitis.
- Take one part of sugar and three parts of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and put them in a vessel of water. Boil this water. When the boiling is done, keep it off the flame, keep it covered with a lid for one hour. Then strain this water in a clean cloth and store it in a glass bottle. Put two drops of this solution at a time in the affected eyes. Do this treatment once in the morning and once in the evening. This cools the eyes and helps in a fast recovery from the conjunctivitis.
- Take some sprigs of green coriander. Extract the juices of this coriander. Then strain it through a clean cloth. Collect the liquid that is obtained. Put this extract, two drops at a time, in the affected eye, twice in the day. This is an excellent remedy for allaying the pain in conjunctivitis and indeed in treating the condition itself. This is one of the useful home remedies for conjunctivitis.
- Pluck a few leaves of the babul tree (Acacia arabica) and grind them to a paste. Apply this paste of the babul leaves on the affected eyes every night. Support the paste in place with a bandage. Untie the bandage in the morning and wash off the paste. This is a good remedy for removing the pain and the redness of the eyes in condition of conjunctivitis.
- Take some leaves of the Indian Barberry (Berberis aristata) and mix it with butter and alum. Blend them to a fine pasty consistency. Then apply this paste onto the eyes, externally on the eyelids. This helps in treating the conjunctivitis fast.
- Prepare a cold infusion by putting some leaves of the marigold plant into water and use it as eyewash. This provides relief to the inflamed eyes.
- One very simple way to treat pinkeye condition when it is just beginning is to take a cloth, dip it in slightly warm water and place it over the eye, like a compress. Do this for about ten minutes. Continuing such treatment for three to four times in a day really helps to control the inflammation of the eyes. A cold water compress can also be used in a like manner, but the warm water compress has better effects than a cold water compress. However, cold water compresses are better at relieving the itchiness.
- Prepare an eyewash solution with rose water in it. Wash the inflamed eyes several times a day with this solution. This helps in soothing the eyes that have become red and painful due to the conjunctivitis infection.
- Chamomile is a very good remedy for conjunctivitis. An eyewash solution made with chamomile helps in controlling the further infection and treats the condition. This chamomile eyewash is made in the following manner: Take one teaspoonful of the flowers of chamomile in dried form, and add them to a cupful of water that has been previously boiled. Let it remain for five minutes, so that all the extracts of the chamomile flowers are steeped into the solution. When this is done, cool the solution and use it for washing the eyes. The same solution can also be used for applying as a compress on the eyes by the means of a clean cloth soaked in it.
- Supplement your diet with lots of vegetable juices when you have sore eyes. The juices of vegetables such as spinach and carrot help in the early treatment of conjunctivitis.
- Extract a cupful of the juice of the Indian gooseberry (amalaki, Emblica officinalis). Add to this juice about two teaspoonfuls of honey. Drink this juice twice in a day. This is one of the best home remedies for conjunctivitis.
- This is another simple remedy to treat sore eyes. Prepare some solution of aloe vera juice in water. Soak a clean cloth in this solution and apply it over the eyes. This helps in relieving the itchiness, pain and redness of the sore eyes.
- Both elderberry and elderflower have beneficial effects in allaying the painful symptoms of conjunctivitis. The tea of the elderberry can be used as an external application on the inflamed eyes with positive effects. Elderflower leaves are meant to be kept over the eyes and held in place with bandages. This also helps in reducing the itchiness of the eyes.
- Boil some fennel seeds in water. After cooling this solution, the water in which fennel seeds have been steeped can be used for washing the eyes.
- Honey can be effectively used in the treatment of conjunctivitis due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Put one or two drops of honey directly into the eyes. However, this may prove difficult to do because honey is too thick and may cause discomfort. If that is the case, then put two teaspoonfuls of honey in a cupful of water. Bring it to a boil and then cool it down. Use this solution for washing the eyes. Do either of these treatments three to four times a day. There will certainly be positive results.
- Add two teaspoonfuls of turmeric powder to a cupful of water and warm add. Soak a clean cloth in this and then apply it to the eyes to provide a warm compress. This is extremely beneficial to the eyes, as turmeric is a cooling herb.
- One of the useful home remedies for conjunctivitis is to add a teaspoonful of yarrow in a cupful of water and allow it to steep for five to six minutes. Cool this solution. Use it as an eyewash solution for the eyes. Perform treatment with it at least three to four times in a day. Yarrow is exceptionally good for the eyes due to its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
- A poultice made of yogurt can be applied externally on the eyes. This provides good soothing effect to the eyes that have been inflamed by conjunctivitis.
Avoiding Conjunctivitis
All precautions against conjunctivitis must be definitely taken if there is an epidemic of conjunctivitis going around. At the same time, it is also the responsibility of the patient not to allow the contagion to spread to other healthy people. Anybody suffering from conjunctivitis MUST NOT:-
(i) Venture out of the home till the time the inflammation lasts. In case the patient has to go in public, the person must wear dark glasses.
(ii) Leave the dark glasses lying around for others to come in contact with it.
(iii) Allow others to come in contact with the handkerchiefs, cloths, towels, etc. that were used for wiping the discharge from the eyes.
(iv) Expose the eyes to bright light till they are inflamed.
(v) Touch the eyes or rub them repeatedly as this could lead to further infections of the eyes.
(vi) Cover the eyes completely and for all times. The natural air is needed for the inflamed eye to heal faster.
(vii) Eat too much of starchy and sugary foods, or include more of salt in the diet. All these can aggravate the conditions of sore eyes.
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