Anyone who has ever accidentally poked themselves in the eye can tell you that eyeballs are incredibly sensitive, which it why it makes sense to head straight to your local ophthalmologist when something seems to be wrong. In fact, that’s what you’re supposed to do! However, not every ocular condition requires immediate medical intervention. Many common ocular conditions, including pink eye, can even be treated successfully at home – all it takes is a little TLC. So before you rush to grab your keys and drive frantically down to see us at Alpine Eye Care, save yourself the gas and simply take a moment to consider the following at home remedies for simple eye problems.
Allergies
Allergies are just about as common as the common cold, and can wreck havoc on your eyes. Itchy, red, watery, miserable eyes can be a result of pet dander, excessive dust, seasonal pollen, mold, and just about anything else you may be allergic to – but how do you cure it? Well the simple response is that you can’t. Allergies are a symptom of an underlying problem and the only solution is total avoidance. Unless you can find a way to eliminate every dust particle or microscopic spore, both inside and outside your home, your best chances to relieve those itchy, watery eyes are allergy medicine, artificial tears, and keeping your home as clean and allergen free as you can.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Pink eye can be caused by a virus or bacteria and is a highly contagious condition that can be passed on through both direct and indirect contact. Though pink eye, caused by a virus, will often not respond to antibiotics, medicated eye drops are the most common treatment for pink eye caused by bacteria. It’s also best, in both cases, to avoid contact with others, including sharing things such as towels, cosmetics, and other items that have been near the infected area. The most common remedies to help reduce the discomfort caused by pink eye, are to apply cool compresses to the eye, keep the area clean, and simply let it rest and heal.
Stye
Styes often look much worse than they are and go away within a week or so, however, they can get pretty uncomfortable and make you desperate for relief. The good news is that at-home treatments are super easy. All you really need to do is take a warm washcloth and lay it over the affected area until it cools. You can/should repeat this at least four times a day to allow the warm moisture to help open up the pores around the eye and release all the gunk trapped in there. You should also avoid wearing any make-up, contact lenses, or other foreign items near the affected eye, and never try to squeeze or pop the stye like a zit, it will only spread the infection.
Black Eye
Unless you begin to notice blurred vision, blood in your actual eye, or a complete inability to move your eye at all, a black eye is one of those things that can be successfully treated at home with nothing more than a little ice or some frozen peas. But please, do not put raw meat anywhere on or near your eye – if you can’t even eat raw meat because of all the bacteria in it then you definitely should not be putting it anywhere near your eyes no matter what the movies have led you to believe!
If at any time your symptoms get worse, do not improve within a reasonable time frame, or you merely suspect that there is something else going on, never hesitate to get professional advice from one of our trained ophthalmologists at Alpine Eye Care. Although many common conditions can be successfully treated at home, sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your visual health. If you’re looking for anything from an eye exam to a surgical procedure anywhere in Northern Michigan, schedule an appointment with Alpine Eye Care by calling us directly at 1.877.733.2020 today to learn more about our practice, read patient testimonials, and receive excellent care.