Home remedies for conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is manifested by red, itchy, watery and painful eyes. The eyelids are also often swollen. Depending on the cause, there are different forms of conjunctivitis. In addition to viruses and bacteria , irritating substances ( allergens ) can also trigger conjunctivitis. In contrast to infectious conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis usually affects both eyes. A doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops to treat it, but alternative home remedies can help manage symptoms.
What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis (med. conjunctivitis) is inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva in the eye. It is one of the most common eye diseases worldwide. In the course of conjunctivitis, the eyes turn reddish. Secretions and excess tears may also be released. These symptoms are accompanied by itching, which is sometimes painful. A burning sensation is also possible. In addition, those affected may suffer from increased sensitivity to light.
Who is affected?
Because it is the most common eye condition, it is likely that everyone will experience conjunctivitis at some point in their lives. The most strongly represented group of patients are children, which is mainly explained by the transmission path of the disease. But adults can also become infected with conjunctivitis. Accordingly, patients of any age can suffer from conjunctivitis and there is no relevant difference in the infection rate between men and women.
Immunocompromised people are exposed to a higher risk of infection because the immune system is weakened anyway. People with sensitive eyes also belong to the risk group. Conjunctivitis occurs most frequently in urban areas, since the settlement density and contact with other people is more pronounced here than in the countryside.
causes
Conjunctivitis can have a variety of causes. Depending on the trigger, the disease is contagious. If viruses, bacteria or fungi are the triggers for conjunctivitis, then it is a contagious disease. The pathogens are transmitted via direct or indirect contact. Rubbing your eyes after shaking hands is often enough for the foreign organisms to get into your eyes and trigger conjunctivitis there.
But not all conjunctivitis is automatically contagious. As described above, people with sensitive eyes are considered to be particularly at risk. Even small foreign bodies, such as insects or dust particles, can irritate the conjunctiva to such an extent that it subsequently becomes inflamed. Drafts of air can also irritate the eye, for example when driving with the window open. Allergies are also possible triggers. Since these inflammations are not caused by organisms and pathogens, they are not contagious.
These non-contagious triggers are the most common causes. Bacterial or viral infections are much less common. A final possibility for the development of conjunctivitis is a previous eye disease, the treatment of which or non-treatment leads to irritation of the conjunctiva.
What helps with conjunctivitis?
- Hot compresses are a home remedy to prevent the eyes from sticking together in conjunctivitis or to clean the eyes afterwards. Simply dampen a washcloth with warm water and place it on the lid for about 5 minutes.
- Cold compresses help with swelling and itching caused by conjunctivitis . Dampen a washcloth with cold water and apply it for 5 minutes. It is best to always use a new washcloth, as bacteria and viruses romp about in damp washcloths. Or use disposable washcloths.
- To remove scabs that form around the eye due to conjunctivitis, you can make a solution with water and baby shampoo (10:1 ratio) and gently wash the eye with it.
- Patients often re-infect themselves shortly after conjunctivitis. It is therefore very important to use eye make-up very sparingly after such an infection and to remove all eye cosmetics that have been used. You should also avoid touching your eyes with your bare hands. If this happens, be sure to wash your hands.
Fast help for conjunctivitis
- If the eyes have to be swabbed because of the watery discharge from conjunctivitis, a well-known home remedy for conjunctivitis is to change the paper towels or pads in each eye so that the germs cannot jump from one eye to the other.
- Contact lenses should be avoided until the conjunctivitis has subsided. In addition, sterilizing the lenses after each use is of great importance.
- The pillow should also be changed after contracting conjunctivitis so that the germs nesting there do not cause the disease to return. Children should stay away from school or kindergarten for a few days because they are not yet following the rules of hygiene.
Alternative remedies
- Grandma’s home remedies for conjunctivitis are chamomile compresses. These are very beneficial and soothe the irritated eye. Simply brew a chamomile tea as normal and let it cool down a bit. Then place the tea bag on the affected eye for about 10 minutes.
- An alternative remedy from traditional Chinese medicine for conjunctivitis is a porridge made from fresh coriander leaves. For this purpose, a handful of coriander is crushed and mixed with 100 ml of water in a blender. This porridge is then applied to the closed eyelids for about 5 minutes and allowed to take effect.
- Another Ayurvedic (derived from traditional Chinese medicine) recipe for conjunctivitis is a bath in water previously boiled with coriander seeds.
See Conjunctivitis for more information . Mild cases of conjunctivitis heal on their own within a week. However, if there are severe symptoms of any kind, the view is blurred or even blisters develop around the eyes, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.