Pink eye
(conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane
(conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball.
When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they're more
visible. This is what causes the whites of your eyes to appear reddish or pink.
Pink eye is
commonly caused by a bacterial or viral infection or an allergic reaction. It
may affect one or both eyes.
Pink eye can
be irritating, but it rarely affects your vision. Treatments can help ease the
discomfort of pink eye. Because pink eye can be contagious, early diagnosis and
treatment can help limit its spread.
Symptoms
Pink eye may
affect one or both eyes. Its signs and symptoms include:
Redness
Itchiness
A gritty
feeling
A discharge
that forms a crust during the night that may prevent your eye or eyes from
opening in the morning
Tearing
Causes
Causes of
pink eye include:
Viruses
Bacteria
Allergies
A chemical
splash in the eye
A foreign
object in the eye
Viral and
bacterial conjunctivitis
Viral
conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes. Viral
conjunctivitis usually produces a watery discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis
often produces a thicker, yellow-green discharge. Both types can be associated
with colds or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a sore throat.
Both viral
and bacterial types are very contagious. They are spread through direct or
indirect contact with the eye secretions of someone who's infected.
Adults and
children alike can develop both of these types of pink eye. Bacterial
conjunctivitis is more common in children than it is in adults.
Allergic
conjunctivitis
Allergic
conjunctivitis affects both eyes and is a response to an allergy-causing
substance such as pollen. In response to allergens, your body produces an
antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This antibody triggers special cells
called mast cells in the mucous lining of your eyes and airways to release
inflammatory substances, including histamines. Your body's release of histamine
can produce a number of allergy signs and symptoms, including red or pink eyes.
If you have
allergic conjunctivitis, you may experience intense itching, tearing and
inflammation of the eyes — as well as sneezing and watery nasal discharge.
Conjunctivitis
resulting from irritation
Irritation
from a chemical splash or a foreign object in your eye is also associated with
conjunctivitis. Sometimes flushing and cleaning the eye to rid it of the
chemical or object causes redness and irritation. Signs and symptoms, which may
include watery eyes and a mucous discharge, usually clear up on their own
within a day or two.
Remedies for Pink Eye
1. Honey
Mix 3
tablespoons of honey in 2 cups of boiling water. Let it cool down, and then,
pour a few drops of this solution in your pink eyes. You can also wash your
eyes with it at least 2-3 times a day. Else, soak a cotton pad or clean cloth
and put it on your eyes. Honey has excellent anti-bacterial properties and
helps in curing the infection quickly.
Note- You
can also use warm milk in place of boiling water.
2. Potato
Potato works
as a natural astringent and works well to cure pink eye at home. Cut slices of
raw potato and place it on the infected eye at least for 20 minutes. Repeat the
process for about 3 days for better results.
3. Turmeric
Mix 2
tablespoons of turmeric powder in a cup of boiled water and apply it as a
compress on the pink eye. Turmeric is a good antibiotic, and therefore, reduces
the symptoms of a pink eye.
4. Fennel
Seeds
Boil some
fennel seeds in water and use this water as eyewash in order to cure a pink
eye.
5. Aloe Vera
Soak a part
of clean handkerchief in fresh aloe Vera gel and place it on the infected eye.
Aloe vera is one of the best remedies for pink eye due to its medicinal
properties.
6. Baking
Soda
Mix 1
tablespoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water and use it as eyewash. It is one of
the best home remedies for pink eye in adults as it also gives a soothing
effect to eyes.
7. Apply
Warm or Cold Compress
If you are
suffering from a viral or bacterial pink eye, apply a warm compress. Soak a
clean cloth in lukewarm water and gently press it over the infected eye. Warm
compress reduce swelling, caused due to the pink eye. A cold compress is
beneficial for an infection, caused due to an allergy.
Note- Use a
separate cloth if you are applying a warm compress to both the eyes as a warm
compress increases the risk of spreading the infection from one eye to the
other.
8. Marigold
Use a
compress of marigold extract on the pink eye to reduce the inflammation and
infection in the eye.
9. Chamomile
Boil a cup
of water and then, add 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flower in it. Let it cool
down and use it as eyewash after straining. This is one of the most effective
remedies to treat pink eye fast.
10. Barberry
Take some
powdered barberry and boil it in a cup of water. Use this solution as eyewash.
Barberry is a good anti-bacterial agent, and therefore, helps in curing the
pink eye.
11.
Elderberry Blossom Tea
It is one of
the best herbal remedies to kill the infection of pink eye. Make tea of
elderberry blossom and use it as eyewash.
12. Yoghurt
Take live
cultured yoghurt and apply it as a poultice on the infected eye to eliminate
the inflammation and redness, caused due to a pink eye.
13. Boric
Acid
Boric acid
works well for pink eye treatment. Dilute a tablespoon of boric acid in ¼ cup
of boiling water and use it as eyewash to treat the infection. You can also
apply it as a compress over the infected eye. This remedy should be repeated at
least thrice a week in order to get the best results.
14. Castor
Oil
Put a drop
of castor oil in the infected eye at least thrice a day in order to cure a pink
eye.
15. Breast
Milk
Pour 2-3
drops of breast milk in the infected eye to get an effective relief from pink
eye infection.
16. Cold
Bread
Placing cold
bread over the infected eye effectively relieves the itchiness and
inflammation, caused as a result of pink eye infection.
17. Charcoal
Dust
This is a
proven remedy to cure a pink eye. Take 1 teaspoon of charcoal dust along with ¼
teaspoon of sea salt and mix it in a cup of water. Boil it, and strain it after
cooling it down. Pour 4-5 drops of this solution into the infected eye.
18.
Coriander
Boil some
dried coriander leaves in water. Cool it down after straining it and then, use
it as eyewash or a compress. Coriander helps in reducing the swelling and pain,
caused due to conjunctivitis.
19. Apple
Cider Vinegar
Add a
tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. Soak a cotton ball in it
and apply it on the infected eye.
20.
Calendula
Take 2
tablespoons of calendula flower and boil it in a cup of water. Wash the
infected eye with this solution or you can also apply it as a warm compress.
21. Indian
Gooseberry or Amla
To get
relief from pink eye, mix 2 teaspoon of honey in a cup of amla juice and drink
it at least twice a day.
22. Lemon
Juice
Dilute some
lemon juice in water and apply it with a clean cotton swab on the eyelid of the
infected eye. This will help fight the infection that causes pink eye.
23. Coconut
Oil
Coconut oil
helps in relieving the itchiness in the pink eye. Soak a cotton ball in coconut
oil and apply it over the eyelid of the infected eye.
24. Salt
Water
Make your
own natural eye drops by mixing a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of water.
Pour 2-3 drops of this solution into the infected eye to help clear the
infection.
25. Garlic
Peel garlic
clove and make a cut on it in order to let its juice come out. Now, rub it on
the upper eyelid of the infected eye. You might feel a stinging sensation, but
it will go after some time. Garlic is an excellent antibiotic and works well to
kill infections.
26. Sip on
Vegetable Juices
Vegetable
juices are a good cure for pink eye infection. Add 200 ml of spinach juice in
300 ml of carrot juice and drink it to quickly heal the infection. You can also
make a mixture of 200 ml of raw parsley juice in 300 ml of carrot juice.
REMEMBER
Your risk of
having pink eye increases with:
Exposure to
something for which you have an allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)
Exposure to
someone infected with the viral or bacterial form of conjunctivitis
Use of
contact lenses