Table of Contents
Introduction
Nowadays, irritated eye problem is becoming widespread. This is because, due to the requirements for jobs and entertainment, people are spending more time to sit in front of computers, televisions which strains eyes and causes eye irritation.
Moreover, the other reasons may come from makeup and poor sleep. All of them can also leave puffy exhausted eyes[1].
Therefore, more than ever, people are in need of natural home remedies for irritated eyes. Let’s analyze them now!
What Causes Irritated Eyes?
Irritated eyes are not unusual. In fact, most of us are likely to experience this problem at least once, so you do not need to be frustrated when it happens to you.
Eyes are one of the most sensitive and hard-working parts of our body. They hardly have the chance to rest, even when we are sleeping. As a consequence, there may be many possible causes of irritated eyes.
But overall, irritated eyes may come from infections or allergies. Besides, you also need to take these factors into consideration when you want to find out what irritates your eyes.
- Excessive exposure to the sun
- Rubbing your eyes too hard
- Contact lenses
- Viral infections
- Staring at computer screen or TV for an extended period
- Dryness
- Pollutants
Are Irritated Eyes Contagious?
One of the most significant concerns for people around patients is whether irritated eyes are contagious. And it is possible to happen, especially when the irritated eyes come from an infection.
The transmission of viral infection can occur through many different ways, so if you have seen someone with irritated eyes, you should keep a distance from them to reduce the risk.
Symptoms of Irritated Eyes
Apparently, the first symptom you will feel is the irritation in your eyes. Furthermore, it will lead to a series of other signs, such as inflammation, redness, itchiness, or a burning sensation.
In many cases, your eyes might become watery and there is even discharge from them.
Home Remedies for Irritated Eyes
Eye irritation can cause itchy, dry and redness to your eyes, which makes them look tired and causes discomforts to your life.
Therefore, treating irritated eyes is very necessary. Fortunately, the problem can be solved easily at home by following these simple home remedies for irritated eyes.
Nevertheless, when you try to apply these home remedies for irritated eyes, the recommendation is to do under the instruction of an expert or a doctor. They are professional and know how to minimize possible harmful effects.
Here are top 15 pure and natural home remedies for irritated eyes that you can apply quickly to deal with this annoying and even, dangerous problem.
1. Cold compress
A cold compress is very useful in relieving the eyelids and irritated eyes[2]. Therefore, it is one of the very first home remedies for irritated eyes you should think of.
However, you should never let the ice contact directly your eyes, as well as your skin, because it might result in some side effects.
How to apply:
- Take some ice cubes and put them into water to get ice water.
- Splash this water on your face and eyes.
- After that, wrap some ice cubes into a soft cloth then apply the cloth on closed eyelids.
- Keep this for few minutes then remove.
As soon as you apply this home remedy, the situation will be improved.
2. Chamomile
Another soothing herb in the list of top home remedies for irritated eyes is chamomile. It has been famous for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral qualities for ages.
How to apply:
- Take one teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers and mix it well with a cup of boiled water then leave this for 5 minutes.
- After that, strain the water and let it cool down naturally.
- Use this water to wash your eyes carefully.
Alternatively, you can mix 12 drops of tincture of chamomile with a cup of boiled water and use this solution to wash your eyes. It will bring the same effects[3][4][5].
Learn more about other benefits of chamomile at Home Remedies for Swollen Glands.
3. Goldenseal
Goldenseal is another herb among top home remedies for irritated eyes. It has many excellent qualities to accelerate the treatment of irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Take 2 teaspoons of goldenseal and put into a cup.
- Pour boiled water into the cup and let the herb be steeped for few minutes.
- After that, take a cotton washcloth to soak into the solution.
- Remove the excess water and apply the washcloth onto your eyelids[6][7].
The recommendation is to follow this home remedy 3 times a day to get the best results of the treatment.
4. Cucumber
Cucumber is very popular in treating eye irritation and inflammation as it can soothe your eyes and reduce soreness.
Moreover, its antioxidant nature has a significant influence on the fight of inflammation and itchiness. It is not to mention the fact you can find cucumber almost everywhere, so it is one of the most popular home remedies for irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Slide a cucumber and put it into cold water for about 10 minutes.
- After that, take 2 of them out of the water and place directly onto your eyes in 10 minutes then remove.
Learn more about other benefits of cucumbers on How to Get Rid of Blemishes.
5. Tea bags
Tea bags have a lot of bioflavonoids that can help in fighting against viral and bacterial infections as well as reducing inflammation[8]. Therefore, it is not only a favorite drink but also one of the most preferred home remedies for irritated eyes around the world.
Put a green tea bag into a cup of hot water and leave it for few minutes. After that, take the tea bag out and let it cool down. Then, place the bag on the affected eye for several minutes. Follow this home remedy 3-4 times a day to see the best results.
The tannic acid in green tea will help soothe itching soon.
6. Water
Water is an element that plays essential roles in your body. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the level of water in your body to keep your eyes always healthy.
In fact, it is also one of the simplest home remedies for irritated eyes you can apply anytime.
All you need to do is drink a significant amount of water during the day. You should not wait until you feel thirsty because it is a signal that your body is lack of water. Instead, actively drink water as much as you can, and the results are worth-to-pay.
7. Chilled spoons
The cold temperature can help constrict the blood vessels, leading to the decrease of redness and puffiness in your eyes. That is the reason why chilled spoon is one of the most useful home remedies for irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Put 4 metal spoons into a glass of cold water.
- After that, take the spoons out and place them on each eye.
- When the spoons become warm, replace them by the other ones.
- Continue this process until swelling subsides.
8. Witch hazel
Witch hazel has astringent properties that can be very useful in preventing inflammation as well as reducing the level of swelling. It is among top herbal home remedies for irritated eyes that many people have made use of to get rid of their eye problems.
Pour enough amount of witch hazel into a cup. Then take a cotton pad or cotton ball to soak into the liquid. Place the pad directly onto your closed eyelid and keep this for several minutes. The situation will be soon improved.
9. Aloe Vera juice
Without a doubt, aloe vera is one of the most efficient home remedies for irritated eyes. In fact, you may have encountered this ingredient in the treatment of many different problems, most of which are related to skin or eyes.
Aloe Vera juice can be used in treating irritated eyes as it can help soothe the itching as well as relieve the level of inflammation[9].
How to apply:
- Cut half an Aloe Vera leaves then extract the gel inside.
- Freeze the gel and then mix it well with a little amount of cold water.
- Take a clean piece of cotton then soak it into the mixture.
- Place this piece directly onto your closed eyelid. The result well come soon.
Learn more about Aloe Vera’s benefits at Home Remedies for Acne Scars.
10. Frozen vegetables
While many of us are not willing to store too many vegetables in the fridge, the truth is that they can become excellent home remedies for irritated eyes some day.
Its cool temperature will give you quick relief from itchiness as well as the burning sensation that comes from irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Put vegetable in your refrigerator to freeze them.
- Then wrap them in a thin towel and place it onto the affected eye.
- Wait for about 10 minutes then remove.
Frozen vegetables will bring you some surprising effects on treating irritated eyes.
11. Castor Oil
Castor oil has effects of soothing the eye and reducing the swelling and redness. Therefore it is beneficial in treating irritated eyes.
Moreover, what makes castor oil one of the best home remedies for irritated eyes is its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. In other words, it is an excellent choice as you wish to deal with eye infections.
What’s more about castor oil? Only a few people know that castor oil has positive impacts on your eyelashes. If you use it regularly, the likelihood is that your eyelashes will grow thicker quickly.
How to apply:
- Rinse off a dropper with clean water then dry.
- After that, suck pure castor oil into the dropper and administer 1 drop into each eye.
- Follow this method 3 times a day and continue for several days until the symptoms no longer exist.
Castor oil is also used to treat tinnitus. Read more Home Remedies for Tinnitus.
12. Warm milk and honey
Honey is well known for its antibacterial properties and milk is very good at soothing. The combination of milk and honey can help soothe and treat conjunctivitis effectively. In fact, cold milk can serve as a single, but the combination also generates one of the best home remedies for irritated eyes.
Mix an enough amount of milk with the equal amount of honey together until you can get a smooth mixture. Then warm up this mixture and use an eyedropper to drop 2-3 drops of this mixture to your eyes. Also you can use honey with milk as a compress. Both ways will bring the same effects.
13. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains a lot of malic acids which can help fight bacterial infection. That is the reason why the vinegar is used in treating irritated eyes.
Despite its acidic nature, apple cider vinegar should be in your priority home remedies for irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar then put it in a cup of water dilute this vinegar with water and use it as eyewash water.
- Follow the treatment few times every day to treat irritated eyes completely.
14. Potato
Potato is a popular ingredient in the kitchen and you can make a lot of great foods from it. However, it also serves as one of the most significant home remedies for irritated eyes. Do you know why?
Astringent components in potato are very helpful in reducing inflammation causing by irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Clean a potato and grate it well then place it onto the eye to prevent inflammation.
- Also, you can make potato into a poultice and place it over the affected eye in about 15 minutes.
Follow methods with potato 3 nights continuously to see the improvement.
15. Rose water
Rose water can help in the situation of irritated eyes by providing immediate relief as well as soothing burning just after about 5 minutes. In other words, it is one of the most efficient home remedies for irritated eyes.
How to apply:
- Take an enough amount of rose water in a cup.
- Then use a cotton ball to dip into the water.
- Place the soaked cotton ball over the affected eye and wait for several minutes.
- Follow this home remedy several days to help the eye recovery soon.
When to See A Doctor
Eyes are extremely sensitive and any problem to your eyes should be taken into serious consideration. Therefore, the recommendation is to visit a doctor immediately when you notice something strange with your eyes.
Irritated eyes can come from many different causes and it is challenging to figure it out without the help of a doctor. Besides, he or she would give you the most appropriate advice on the treatment.
Home remedies for irritated eyes are great, but sometimes they are not sufficient for your condition.
In many cases, the burning sensation, redness, or swelling may be signs of severe underlying problems that you need to address instantly.
How Long Do Irritated Eyes Last?
In general, irritated eyes should last for more or less than a few days, but there are a lot of factors to make it vary. You should calculate the period based on the appearance of the first signs. Besides, the causes of irritated eyes have significant impacts on how long they last.
For older people with the poor immune system and other medications, it would be longer to recover from irritated eyes, possibly up to 25 days.
Your hygiene and on-time actions are also responsible for a slow or quick recovery.
The home remedies for irritated eyes are useful to help you shorten the healing time, but you should work closely with your doctor so that the treatment gets the best outcome.
How to Prevent Irritated Eyes
Nobody wants irritated eyes and nobody wants to try home remedies for irritated eyes for once. But how can we avoid such a common problem that irritates the majority of the population?
The answer is quite simple. Here are some useful tips to make your prevention of irritated eyes successful.
Don’t Rub Your Eyes
Most of us react to touch our eyes with bare hands when there is something wrong with them. However, it has adverse impacts on our eyes and only worsens the itchiness and irritation.
By rubbing the eyes, you are letting more bacteria and viruses come into your eyes. Many bacteria have already existed in your hands for a long time.
Use Eye Drops
Eye drops are a great idea to improve the health of your eyes, especially when they are tired or irritated. Basically, you can count on two types of over-the-counter eye drops on the market.
Antihistamine eye drops are useful to alleviate redness and itching as they contain some allergy-fighting medications.
On the other hand, lubricating eye drops supply your eyes with moisture and they help to remove allergens or strange things inside your eyes.
Overall, over-the-counter eye drops are efficient only for mild conditions. If you have severe irritation, please contact your doctor instantly.
Keep Your Eyes Safe
If you have a high possibility of facing allergens or pollutants outside, the suggestion is to wear sunglasses often. It provides additional protection to your eyes, especially from the sun as well.
Besides, if you are allergic to pet dander, you should stay away from them as well. Otherwise, your eyes might have trouble later.
Reduce The Risks
Even before home remedies for irritated eyes, you have understood the causes of irritated eyes in our article. Now it is time to apply this piece of information! It can help you avoid irritated eyes successfully.
You should limit the time of using computers or forcing your eyes to work hard for a long period. A suggestion is to add more light so that your eyes do not suffer from too much strain.
Besides, you should give yourself and your eyes some time to relax. Let’s take a break and go around with some eye exercises, such as staring at one point far away for few seconds. Experts recommend that you should do so every 20 minutes.
Another approach is to change your working or studying environment to make it more friendly to your eyes. Eye fatigue is likely to happen if you sit too close to the screen.
Few people also notice that dirt or dust can result in a strain of your eyes. Therefore, you need to clean your screen and the surrounding surface regularly to protect your eyes.
Diet
Last but not least, your eyes cannot be healthy if they lack nutrients. Therefore, diet plays a vital role in the improvement of your eye health.
The first rule is to get enough water every day. Dehydration can be responsible for dryness and irritation of your eyes.
Secondly, you had better consume more vitamin A-rich foods and absorb other nutrients that are beneficial for your eyes, such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C. Many foods are great home remedies for irritated eyes as well.
Citrus fruits provide such a great number of bioflavonoids that enhance your eye health significantly, for example.
Conclusion
Eyes are the beauty of not only your face but also your soul. Therefore, it is worth paying more attention to take good care of your eyes. With our home remedies for irritated eyes, you can quickly get rid of all uncomfortable signs.
Nevertheless, the bottom line is to protect your eyes in the long term and only by changing your lifestyle can you achieve it!
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