10 Effective Home Remedies To Treat Eye Infections

If your eyes keep itching and drying up constantly, you are most likely suffering from an eye infection. Eye infections can be uncomfortable and painful and lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Fortunately, there are home remedies for eye infections you can try along with traditional medicine to get rid of them. Read on to know more!

What Is An Eye Infection?

An eye infection is usually accompanied by redness and an itching sensation in your eyes. It can affect the following parts of your eyes:

• Cornea
• Eyelids
• Conjunctiva (the area that covers the inner and outer layers of your eyes)

Common eye infections include:

• Blepharitis – An inflamed and crusted eyelid.
• Dry Eyes – The tear ducts are unable to provide enough lubrication to your eyes, causing redness and irritation.
• Keratitis – The cornea is inflamed due to fungal or bacterial infection.
• Pink Eye – Also known as conjunctivitis or madras eye, it occurs due to viral infection, irritation, or inflammation of the conjunctiva, resulting in redness and itching of the eyes accompanied by tears.
• Stye – A painful red lump near the edge of the eyelid that looks like a boil or a pimple.

Other forms of eye infections include chalazion, trachoma, uveitis, endophthalmitis, dacryocystitis, orbital cellulitis, and eye herpes caused by the herpes simplex virus.

An eye infection can affect any or both of your eyes. One of the premier Cataract & Refractive Surgeons, Dr. Michael J. Shumski, MD, MSE, says, “ One of the most common infections that can cause permanent vision damage and blindness are contact lens-related infections. Contact lenses are a risk factor for many different types of bacteria. These are some of the most common vision-threatening and blinding infections in otherwise healthy young adults.”

The study revealed that improper cleaning, irregular contact lens replacement, and other behaviors associated with contact lens hygiene and care can lead to serious eye infections. In the survey, 99% of respondents reported at least 1 contact lens hygiene behavior previously linked to an increased risk of eye infection.

There are always signs or symptoms to determine if it is an eye infection. Scroll down for more information.

Symptoms Of An Eye Infection

While the symptoms of an eye infection can vary, they all affect how your eye feels and looks. Here’s what you might notice in case of eye infection:

• What You Experience:
• Pain or discomfort
• Itchy eyes
• Sensation of something in your eye
• Eye pain in bright light (light sensitivity)
• Burning sensation in or around eyes
• Painful lump near the eyelashes or under the eyelid
• Tender eyelid when touched
• Excessive tearing
• Irritation in your eyes

How Your Eyes Look:

• Yellow, green, or clear discharge from one or both eyes
• Pinkish tint in the white area of the eyes
• Red or purple swollen eyelids
• Crusty lashes and lids, especially in the morning

If you are dealing with an eye infection, you may be wondering how to cure an eye infection in 24 hours. Though medication is important, certain home remedies can ease the symptoms and help manage the infection. Make sure you discuss these remedies with your doctor.

Home Remedies For Eye Infections

1. Colostrum (Breast Milk)

Newborns can develop eye infections. Breast milk can effectively manage the symptoms of neonatal eye infections, such as conjunctivitis (1). Colostrum contains high levels of antibodies that can help fight infections and may help alleviate conjunctivitis in newborn babies. Therefore, breast milk can be your answer to conjunctivitis. However, while breast milk causes no harm, still there is no research-based evidence that breast milk can treat pink eye or conjunctivitis.

You Will Need

A few drops of breast milk

What You Have To Do

1. Pour a drop or two of colostrum in the eyes of the infant with a dropper.
2. Wash the eyes in 5 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat 2 times daily.

Trivia

Colostrum is the first milk that the mammary glands produce after delivery. As colostrum is more effective against eye infections than mature milk, you can store pumped colostrum in the freezer for 6-12 months and use later if required (1).

2. Essential Oils

Essential oils of tea tree, peppermint, and rosemary possess antimicrobial properties (2). Hence, they may help combat bacterial and fungal infections and prevent them.

You Will Need

• A few drops of tea tree oil or rosemary oil
• 1 liter of hot water
• A towel

What You Have To Do

1. Heat a large bowl of water and add 3-4 drops of the essential oil to it.
2. Cover yourself with a towel and bend over the bowl.
3. Let your skin absorb the steam for 5-6 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 times daily.

Caution: Do not apply essential oils (diluted or otherwise) around the eyes as they may cause irritation and a burning sensation.

3. Green Tea Bags

Green tea extract is rich in bioactive compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties

(3). Using green tea bags may soothe your eyes and reduce the swelling, but there is no scientific evidence to prove that they can treat eye infections. Hence, exercise caution.

You Will Need

2 green tea bags

What You Have To Do

1. Take two used green tea bags.
2. Refrigerate them for a while and place them on your eyes for 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove them and wash your eyes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 2 times daily to reduce the swelling and pain.

Quick Tip

Discard used teabags immediately to avoid the risk of spreading the infection to the other eye or other individuals.

4. Honey

Honey has been used to treat eye infections like blepharitis, keratitis, and keratoconjunctivitis (4). It is one of the best home remedies for the madras eye. As honey has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it may help alleviate eye infections.

You Will Need

• 1 cup of water
• 2-3 teaspoons of honey
• A sterilized dropper

What You Have To Do

1. Boil a cup of water and add a few drops of honey to it.
2. Stir well and allow it to cool down.
3. Use a sterilized dropper to put a drop in each eye.
4. Wash with water after 5 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times a day.

Megan Stevens, a blogger, shared her experience of using honey for pink eye in her blog. She said, “It stings a lot. I dab the tears with a clean tissue. I repeat several times the first day, and that’s it. The condition is gone in one day (i).”

5. Turmeric

Curcumin is the major bioactive compound in turmeric. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can help alleviate the symptoms associated with eye infections (5). It is commonly featured in several madras eye home remedies. Though more randomized clinical trials are needed to establish its therapeutic properties, initial studies have shown promising results. Hence, turmeric can be a good home remedy for eye infections.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 cup of warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Boil a cup of water and add a teaspoon of turmeric to it.
2. Allow it to cool for a while.
3. Soak a sterile washcloth in this solution.
4. Use this as a warm compress and wash your eyes after this process.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this at least once a day.

6. Lemon Juice

Sometimes, allergic reactions to substances or a change in the weather can cause eye infections to flare up. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, lemon juice can help fight eye infections and their symptoms (6). However, as there is not enough research to back this up, make sure you discuss this remedy with your doctor.

You Will Need

• 1 glass of warm water
• ½ a ripe lemon

What You Have To Do

1. Extract the juice from the lemon.
2. Add this to a glass of warm water and mix well.
3. Drink this up.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this juice at least once daily.

7. Saline Water

Saline is recommended to treat certain types of eye infections (7). Some believe that this could be attributed to the antiseptic properties of saline. However, there is no research to support this statement. As saline water is similar to teardrops, some state that it can help alleviate eye infections.

You Will Need

• ½ liter of boiled water
• 1-2 teaspoons of salt

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the salt with the boiled water.
2. Rinse your eyes thoroughly with this solution.

How Often You Should Do This

You can wash your eyes with this mild solution several times a day.

8. Vitamin Supplements

Due to a fast-paced lifestyle, your body can become deficient in essential vitamins and minerals. This, in turn, can make you prone to eye infections. Research shows that vitamins A, C, and E can be beneficial for maintaining good ocular health (8).

These nutrients can help prevent any infection or damage to your eyes. You can consume foods rich in these nutrients. Additionally, you can also consume foods like leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, seafood, nuts, and cheese.

Note: Please make sure that you consume supplements after consulting your doctor/health care provider.

9. Castor Oil

In animal studies, the ricinoleic acid in castor oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties, was found to reduce swelling of the eyes (9). The oil can also lubricate your eyes, which may help in alleviating any irritation (10), (11).

You Will Need

• Castor oil (100% organic, cold-pressed, hexane-free)
• Sterile washcloth
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Apply castor oil around your eyes.
2. Soak the washcloth in warm water and place it over your eyelids.
3. Leave it on for about 10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 times daily.

10. Cold Compress

Using a cold compress can help alleviate the inflammation and discomfort caused by an eye infection (12). However, it will not treat the infection.

You Will Need

A cold compress

What You Have To Do

1. Place a cold compress on the affected eye for about 2-3 minutes.
2. Do this two more times.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this procedure 2 times daily until the swelling subsides.

These home remedies can go a long way in helping you deal with the infection. But it always is better to prevent an infection in the first place.

Here are a few prevention tips you can follow:

1. Refrain from touching/rubbing your eyes with unclean hands.
2. Do not share your cosmetics, towels, and handkerchiefs with others.
3. Do not wear contacts overnight.
4. Keep your contact lens clean and replace them once every three months.
5. Remove your eye makeup before bed.
6. Do not share your spectacles with others.
7. While drying, protect your eyes from dust and pollution.

If your eye infection does not improve even after following the home remedies mentioned above, it is best to visit a doctor for diagnosis. Learn below what to expect from a diagnosis session.

Diagnosis Of An Eye Infection

Your doctor may ask you about your symptoms and medical history to diagnose an eye infection. Then, they usually examine the eyes and vision. If the infection appears severe, they may also perform a swab test. For this test, the discharge from your eye or a tissue sample is usually collected and sent to a lab for testing. Depending on the results, they may prescribe you with eye drops, medication, or other therapies customized to your specific condition. Take a look at some medical treatment options in the following section.

Treatment Options For Eye Infections

The treatment for eye infections usually depends on their causes. It might include:

• Antibiotics like liquid solutions and topical ointments for bacterial infections
• Topical antihistamines for allergic infections
• Artificial tear drops to soothe dry eyes
• Antiviral medications for viral infections

Your doctor will also ask you to maintain good hygiene habits, such as washing hands frequently and avoiding touching the eyes, to prevent further irritation and spread of the infection.

Infographics: Home Remedies To Treat Eye Infections

Eye infections are a relatively common condition. Fortunately, you can soothe the symptoms associated with eye infections with simple home remedies. The infographic below includes some easy-to-follow home remedies to provide fast relief. Take a look!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes an eye infection?

Eye infections can be caused by various microbes or bacteria that come in contact with your eyes or the area surrounding them.

How do I know if my eye is infected?

Different types of infections have different symptoms. But the most common sign of eye infection is the redness of the eyes and the presence of a yellowish discharge that can crust over your eyes.

How to treat eye infection in 24 hours?

Most eye infections take a few days to weeks to cure completely. However, if you are seeking quick recovery, consult a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate medication for your condition.

How long does an eye infection last?

Typically, an eye infection can last anywhere from two days to a week. In severe cases, it can last for a few weeks to a month.

How does an eye infection spread?

Most often, an eye infection spreads by hand-to-eye contact. The infection-causing bacteria or microbes on your hands can transfer the infection to your eyes.

Can I use apple cider vinegar for treating eye infection?

Apple cider vinegar is acidic. It contains acetic acid, which may irritate and damage the eyes and the cornea. There is no scientific research to prove that ACV helps in treating eye infection. Hence, it is important to exercise caution. Do not use undiluted ACV. Also, consult your doctor before trying this remedy.

Learn about fungal eye infections from an expert doctor. Educate yourself on the types, how to recognize them, and how to treat them. Get the facts and stay informed by watching the video below now!

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

 

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations.

Read full bio of Dr. Zeel Gandhi

• 
  Dr. Michael J. ShumskiMD, MSE Dr. Michael J. Shumski, MD, MSE, is one of the best cataract and refractive surgeons in USA with 13 years of experience in cataract and laser vision surgery. He has a background in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and is a sought-after industry collaborator and consultant on the newest generation of lasers and lens implant technologies.
  
  Dr. Michael J. Shumski, MD, MSE, is one of the best cataract and refractive surgeons in USA with 13 years of experience in cataract and laser vision surgery. He has a background in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and is a sought-after industry collaborator and consultant on the newest generation of lasers and lens implant technologies.

Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

Read full bio of Shaheen Naser

Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

Read full bio of Arshiya Syeda

Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

Read full bio of Dipti Sharma