Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Eye Infections

Reflexively reaching for over-the-counter eyedrops when your eyes become watery, itchy, red, or inflamed may actually make matters worse. Instead, give one of nature’s gentle remedies a try — it may be just what the doctor ordered.

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PICTURES

Symptoms
Pinkness or redness in the whites of the eyes.
Thick, oozing greenish yellow or white discharge from the eye.
Excessive tearing.
Dried crusts on the eyelid and eyelashes that form during sleep.
Sensation of sand or grit in the eye when blinking.
Swollen or flaking eyelids.
A small, painful red bump at the base of an eyelash (sty).

When to Call Your Doctor
If the eye is red or swollen, with a thick discharge-you may need antibiotics for a bacterial infection. If you wear contact lenses, remove them.
If the eye is painful or sensitive to sunlight, or you have blurring or loss of vision.
If the pupils are different sizes or an object is lodged in an eye.
If mild symptoms don’t begin to wane in four days of self-care.
Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

What It Is
Eye infections are usually related to pinkeye (conjunctivitis), an inflammation of the sensitive mucous membranes that line the eyelids. Other causes of redness and irritation are a persistent scaliness on the eyelid edges (called blepharitis) and inflamed, painful bumps at the base of the eyelashes (known as styes). A doctor should evaluate eyes that are red and painful to determine the proper course of treatment and rule out more serious ailments, such as glaucoma.

What Causes It
Viruses and bacteria cause eye infections. Inflammation and redness may also occur as a result of injuries to the eye, allergies, or irritants (such as smoke, makeup, or chlorine in a swimming pool).

How Supplements Can Help
Any serious eye infection or injury requires immediate medical care. Mild eye infections can be treated at home with natural remedies, but see your doctor if the symptoms don’t begin to clear up within three or four days.

What Else You Can Do
Wash your hands often with an antiseptic soap, and don’t touch or rub your eyes. Change pillowcases and towels frequently; don’t share them with others. Most eye infections are highly contagious.
Avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses during an eye infection.
Wipe the discharge from the infected eye with a tissue and dispose of it immediately to prevent the infection from spreading.
For styes, apply a warm, moist compress for 10 minutes three or four times a day until the sty comes to a head and drains.
For blepharitis, try a warm, moist compress; apply for 15 minutes to loosen the infected scaliness on the eyelids. Then scrub the eyelid gently with water and baking soda, or with diluted baby shampoo.
Use a separate compress or eyecup for each eye to prevent inadvertently spreading any infection.
Make sure herbal teas are sterile when you use them as eyewashes. Otherwise, you could cause further infection. To avoid contamination, strain the cooled teas through a sterile gauze pad or cheesecloth and store them in sealed containers. Prepare a fresh batch of tea daily.
In addition to their use as eyewashes, herbal teas made from eyebright, chamomile, or fennel are good to drink and will help relieve your symptoms. Have two or three cups a day.
Try to avoid using nonprescription eyedrops meant to relieve red, tired eyes. They have been shown to cause some forms of conjunctivitis, according to a recent report in the Archives of Ophthalmology. And overuse of eyedrops that reduce redness by narrowing blood vessels may be problematic for some people.

Supplement Recommendations

Eyebright
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Zinc
Chamomile
Goldenseal


Eyebright

Dosage: 1 tsp. dried herb per pint of hot water; cool and strain.
Comments: Store in sealed container. Prepare fresh daily. Use an eyecup to wash affected eye 3 times a day.

Vitamin A
Dosage: 50,000 IU twice a day for 7 days, then 25,000 IU daily for 3 weeks.
Comments: Women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should not exceed 5,000 IU a day.

Vitamin C

Dosage: 1,000 mg 3 times a day for 1 month.
Comments: Reduce dose if diarrhea develops.

Zinc
Dosage: 30 mg a day for 1 month.
Comments: Do not exceed 150 mg zinc a day from all sources.

Chamomile

Dosage: 2 or 3 tsp. dried herb per cup hot water; cool and strain.
Comments: Store in sealed container. Prepare fresh daily. Use an eyecup to wash affected eye 3 times a day.

Goldenseal

Dosage: 1 tsp. dried herb per pint of hot water; cool and strain.
Comments: Store in sealed container. Prepare fresh daily. Use an eyecup to wash affected eye 3 times a day.

You may click to see :
*Conjunctivitis/Eye Infection  ….
*Eye Problems – Eye Infections…
*How to Prevent This Eye Infection….
*A Quick Peek on Eye Infections Associated With Contact Lenses…

Resources:-

Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/kriegerbody.cfm?id=4233

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