Obviously we all would prefer to use preventive measures when it comes to pink eye, like washing your hands regularly especially when handling fecal matter of any kind, but sometimes you end up with an infection despite your best efforts. So what can you do to treat the infection without having to go to a doctor?
Truth is, there isn't a whole lot you can do other than keep it clean and prevent it from spreading to your other eye, getting worse, or infecting others. One of my favorite resources for home remedies is Home-Remedies-For-You.com. Im not sure where to get some of the things they mention in the treatment suggestions, but I thought I would include them just in case someone might know where to get it. Here is what they have to say about treating pink eye:
Indian gooseberry is believed to be one of the most effective natural remedies for pink eye. Squeeze out the juice of an Indian gooseberry and mix it with one tablespoon of honey. Drink this concoction at least four times in a day to attain relief at a quick pace. Green vegetables are also effective pink eye remedies.
Include green vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and peas among many others to your diet and see the difference in a matter of two days. Carrots are also highly beneficial for reducing the pinkness of the eye. Apply a few dried leaves of coriander on top of the eye for five minutes. The coriander leaves work as a coolant and relieves the infection at a much faster pace.
The water of soaked coriander seeds also imparts a cooling effect and cures pink eye. The infected eye should be rinsed several times a day with coriander water. Include vitamin A in your diet which consists of milk products, tomatoes and mangoes among many others.
Apart from the remedies, it is very important to concentrate on some preventive measures that may avoid aggravating the condition further.
Avoid watching television, reading a book or using the computer till the infection goes away. Also avoid swimming, but if you need to go, use a good pair of swimming goggles and make sure that the water does not enter the eye. The chlorine present in the water may cause severe infection. Wash your eyes with cold water every hour and dry it with a soft cloth. Consume plenty of fluids all throughout the day. Do not rub your eye as it may increase the infection. Home remedies for pink eye are the best treatment for the same.
WebMD's take on the situation focuses more on keeping the eye area free of drainage to promote swift healing and treating discomfort. Here is what they have to say:
Home treatment for pinkeye will help reduce your pain and keep your eye free of drainage. If you wear contacts, remove them and wear glasses until your symptoms have gone away completely. Thoroughly clean your contacts and storage case.
Cold compresses or warm compresses (whichever feels best) can be used. If an allergy is the problem, a cool compress may feel better. If the pinkeye is caused by an infection, a warm, moist compress may soothe your eye and help reduce redness and swelling. Warm, moist compresses can spread infection from one eye to the other. Use a different compress for each eye, and use a clean compress for each application.
When cleaning your eye, wipe from the inside (next to the nose) toward the outside. Use a clean surface for each wipe so that drainage being cleaned away is not rubbed back across the eye. If tissues or wipes are used, make sure they are put in the trash and not allowed to sit around. If washcloths are used to clean the eye, put them in the laundry right away so that no one else picks them up or uses them. After wiping your eye, wash your hands to prevent the pinkeye from spreading.
After pinkeye has been diagnosed:
Truth is, there isn't a whole lot you can do other than keep it clean and prevent it from spreading to your other eye, getting worse, or infecting others. One of my favorite resources for home remedies is Home-Remedies-For-You.com. Im not sure where to get some of the things they mention in the treatment suggestions, but I thought I would include them just in case someone might know where to get it. Here is what they have to say about treating pink eye:
Indian gooseberry is believed to be one of the most effective natural remedies for pink eye. Squeeze out the juice of an Indian gooseberry and mix it with one tablespoon of honey. Drink this concoction at least four times in a day to attain relief at a quick pace. Green vegetables are also effective pink eye remedies.
Include green vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and peas among many others to your diet and see the difference in a matter of two days. Carrots are also highly beneficial for reducing the pinkness of the eye. Apply a few dried leaves of coriander on top of the eye for five minutes. The coriander leaves work as a coolant and relieves the infection at a much faster pace.
The water of soaked coriander seeds also imparts a cooling effect and cures pink eye. The infected eye should be rinsed several times a day with coriander water. Include vitamin A in your diet which consists of milk products, tomatoes and mangoes among many others.
Apart from the remedies, it is very important to concentrate on some preventive measures that may avoid aggravating the condition further.
Avoid watching television, reading a book or using the computer till the infection goes away. Also avoid swimming, but if you need to go, use a good pair of swimming goggles and make sure that the water does not enter the eye. The chlorine present in the water may cause severe infection. Wash your eyes with cold water every hour and dry it with a soft cloth. Consume plenty of fluids all throughout the day. Do not rub your eye as it may increase the infection. Home remedies for pink eye are the best treatment for the same.
WebMD's take on the situation focuses more on keeping the eye area free of drainage to promote swift healing and treating discomfort. Here is what they have to say:
Home treatment for pinkeye will help reduce your pain and keep your eye free of drainage. If you wear contacts, remove them and wear glasses until your symptoms have gone away completely. Thoroughly clean your contacts and storage case.
Cold compresses or warm compresses (whichever feels best) can be used. If an allergy is the problem, a cool compress may feel better. If the pinkeye is caused by an infection, a warm, moist compress may soothe your eye and help reduce redness and swelling. Warm, moist compresses can spread infection from one eye to the other. Use a different compress for each eye, and use a clean compress for each application.
When cleaning your eye, wipe from the inside (next to the nose) toward the outside. Use a clean surface for each wipe so that drainage being cleaned away is not rubbed back across the eye. If tissues or wipes are used, make sure they are put in the trash and not allowed to sit around. If washcloths are used to clean the eye, put them in the laundry right away so that no one else picks them up or uses them. After wiping your eye, wash your hands to prevent the pinkeye from spreading.
After pinkeye has been diagnosed:
- Take steps to prevent the spread of pinkeye by following the instructions in the Prevention section of this topic.
- Do not go to day care or school or go to work until pinkeye has improved.
- If the pinkeye is caused by a virus, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work when symptoms begin to improve, typically in 3 to 5 days. Medicines are not usually used to treat viral pinkeye, so preventing its spread is important. Home treatment of the symptoms will help you feel more comfortable while the infection goes away.
- If the pinkeye is caused by bacteria, the person can usually return to day care, school, or work after the infection has been treated for 24 hours with an antibiotic and symptoms are improving. Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pinkeye.
- Use medicine as directed. Medicine may include eyedrops and eye ointment. See a picture of inserting eye drops or inserting eye ointment.
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