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Natural Cures For Eye Soreness
By
Patricia | April 19, 2010
Sore eyes is what is medically referred to as conjunctivitis. More commonly, it is known as pink eye. While eye muscle soreness and pain caused from stress to the muscle is a very common condition, it usually goes away on its own. It is generally nothing to worry about, except in pregnancy and in newborns. Infections usually spread from person-to-person contact as well as through contact with things that an infected person has used. Contaminated water also helps to spread the disease effectively.
Causes:
Sore eyes can be a result of a number of things starting from allergies to infections. Even irritants and chemicals can cause this problem. Listed below are some of the causes of sore eyes:
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Fungal infections
- Parasitic infections
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- Allergic reactions to pollen, dust, smoke, fumes and dander
- Reaction to contact lenses
- Certain diseases
Of all of these, the most common cause for sore eyes is a viral infection. Viruses such as adenovirus as well as the herpes simplex virus are the leading causes of sore eye infections. The good news is that these usually go away on their own in 2 to 5 days, without any treatment at all. One of the worst types of sore eyes is when newborns are affected by the bacteria present in the birth canal. If this is left untreated, there is a high risk of blindness in the newborn.
Treatment:
Treating conjunctivitis both in children and adults depends on the root cause of the problem.
- If it is an allergic reaction, antihistamines and other anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- For bacterial infections, antibiotics are usually administered, along with eye drops and creams.
- For soreness caused by viral infections, eye drops and creams are usually the only options available.
- For reasons such as exposure to chemical or toxic substances, irrigating the eye with saline solution helps clear the eye of the irritant.
Treating sore eyes is not particularly difficult, and while antibiotics are usually not prescribed, there are a number of home remedies to help manage the discomfort such as eye muscle soreness, eye muscle pain, and stress that is common in sore eyes. Listed below are some of the home remedy options for sore eyes.
- Herbal or plant-based baths: Different cultures use different baths to help manage the symptoms associated with sore eyes. While a lot of these remedies do not cure the problem itself, they help soothe the eyes and make them feel better. Some popular herbal baths for eyes are teas made from mulberry leaves, yerba santa (Mexican pepperleaf), golondira, Jimsonweed, and roots of wild roses.
- Rest: Rest is one of the best treatments for sore eyes. Also, staying at home and resting will ensure that you do not spread the infection to others.
- Using compresses: Plant-based compresses help soothe the eye and relieve the irritation associated with sore eyes. Some of the different types of compresses used as home remedies are potato peels, raw beef steak, and a flaxseed compress over the eyes.
- Washing eyes with cold water: One of the most common home remedies for a sore eye was to wash the eye with cold water in the mornings and at night. This helps soothe the eye and clean out the infected fluid present in the eye.
- For kids and toddlers, putting cow’s milk in the baby’s eyes was once used as a cure for sore eyes.
Please note that most of these options are just home remedies, with no scientific proof to back them up. These home remedies cannot replace medical advice from a doctor. In pregnancy and other conditions, it is best to consult with your doctor for treatment options to manage sore eyes.
Preventive Tips:
- Wash your hands: The best way to ensure that you do not get sore eyes is by keeping your hands clean, as dirty hands carry infection to the eyes.
- Keep personal things personal: Do not share personal items with others who have sore eyes. Towels, shades, tissues, and make up can very easily pass on the infection.
- Keep away from infected people: Although this sounds very brutal, one of the best ways to avoid infectious sore eyes is not to touch or use things that people who are infected have used. This includes sharing a swimming pool, sharing lunch, or shaking hands.
- Disinfect yourself: Whenever you touch something that could be infectious like elevator buttons or door knobs, carry one of those hand sanitizers and use it to prevent getting an infection.
- Sanitize your home: If a member of your family has got sore eyes, ensure that whatever he or she has used is washed and thoroughly disinfected. This will prevent further spread of the infection to other members of the family.