How To Use Honey For Eyes – 13 Useful Ways

Honey is known for its many therapeutic and medicinal properties! While its uses and benefits for skin, gut, and overall immunity are well known, do you know that you can use honey for eyes as well? Yes, you got that right! Honey not only adds that subtle sweetness to your food and enriches you with many important nutrients, but it also helps improve your vision! Not only that, it helps reduce inflammation and eye infections as well! This natural substance has a unique composition that can help with eye problems and make your eyes healthier. Read on to know how you can use honey for managing eye diseases, so that the next time you are dealing with any eye redness, itch, and irritation, you can just swab a bit of honey to help you get some instant relief!

Know Your Ingredient: Honey

What Is It?
Sweet and sticky substance prepared by honey bees.

What Are Its Benefits?
Good for eye health, may help in wound healing, and has soothing properties.

Who Can Use It?
It is safe to use for adults except for those who take anticoagulant medication and children above 1 year of age.

How Often?
It can be consumed daily in moderation.

Caution
Avoid honey if you are allergic to pollen.

Honey – A Brief

We all love honey, right? And this love is shared by most people around the world. Honey has been a popular and essential part of Ayurvedic medicine for ages. Also known as ‘Shahad‘ in Hindi, ‘Tene‘ in Telugu, and ‘Madha‘ in Marathi, it owes its sweetness to the presence of monosaccharidesⁱ  Simple sugars that are colorless, water-soluble, and crystalline solids, and are also the basic units of carbohydrates. , glucose, and fructose. Its shelf life extends up to thousands of years, making it an essential part of our kitchen.

Apart from imparting flavor to food, honey also helps in curing many health ailments. The most important, yet most surprising of them is its effect on our eyes.

If you go through the pages of ancient history, you’ll find that honey was used for curing several eye disorders (1). So, it is not surprising that honey was extremely popular amongst the Egyptians and Indians. Modern researchers have only reinforced this fact.

Honey may be an effective remedy for many vision issues, such as eye infections, irritation, conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and trachomaⁱ  A contagious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that may lead to blurred vision and blindness. , because of its wound healing and soothing properties. If consumed regularly, honey can prevent eye cataractⁱ  The condition where the eyes' natural lens becomes cloudy, causing blurry and hazy vision, especially in aged people. to a large extent. Impressive, isn’t it?

Benefits Of Honey For Eyes

1. Manages Eye Ailments
2. Refreshes Tired Eyes
3. Reduces Dry Eye Syndrome
4. Prevents Macular Degeneration
5. Protects Your Eyes From Glaucoma
6. Keeps Your Vision Intact
7. Relieves Conjunctivitis
8. Reduces Eye Wrinkles
9. Treats Sore Eyes
10. Heals Eye Infection
11. Works As An Optic Nerve Tonic
12. Improves Eye Lens Protein Oxidation
13. Can Help In Lightening Eye Color

1. Manages Eye Ailments

The good news is, honey’s benefits are not limited to skin and hair alone. Fresh and untreated honey is often used as a herbal medicine for managing a wide range of eye-related issues.

Honey is the best cure for eye diseases such as blepharoconjunctivitis, corneal ulcers of inflammatory and traumatic origin, and ulcerative blepharitisⁱ  A common eye inflammation where the oil glands in the eye become dry and cause red, itchy, crusty, and dry eyes. because of its antibacterial properties (2).

For eye troubles, such as dimness of the cornea, fresh comb honey is probably the best option. If the cataract is in the initial stage, fresh comb honey is again an ideal remedy.

2. Refreshes Tired Eyes

Do you feel exhausted after sitting for long hours in front of the computer? If yes, honey is the best thing for relieving your strained eyes.

Apply honey over closed eyelids to improve eyelid health. Take rest and relax with some good music playing in the background. After half an hour, wash off the honey with cold water. Your eyes will feel refreshed (3).

3. Reduces Dry Eye Syndrome

In today’s electronic age, many of us fall prey to dry eyes.

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition in which the eye isn’t able to supply the required amount of tears needed for its lubrication. Usually, the sufferers face a variety of symptoms, including pain, itchiness, reddening of the eye, and blurring of vision.

This condition can easily be treated with the help of honey (4). We all know the benefits of using honey for glowing skin, but now you can use it to treat a dry eye as well. All you need to do is to make an eyewash with honey and warm water and wash your eyes thoroughly with it. Do it before sleeping every alternate night and see the effects.

4. Prevents Macular Degeneration

As we age, we find our vision getting weaker and weaker. This blurred vision is associated with macular degeneration, which can easily be prevented with the help of honey (5).

This sweet liquid is full of antioxidant properties that help in keeping our eye muscles healthy and working in the best way. So, if you are 25 or 50, be assured of good eyesight with the regular usage of honey.

5. Protects Your Eyes From Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which there is fluid build-up in the front part of the eye. This build-up increases the intraocular pressureⁱ  The fluid pressure inside the eye created by the continual renewal of fluids, which also helps in the evaluation of eye diseases. in the eye, and can even lead to permanent damage to our optic nerves, resulting in vision loss.

Many studies have stated that using honey as an eye drop regularly reduces the possibility of occurrence of this disease by 50% (5).

6. Keeps Your Vision Intact

It goes without saying that honey is super effective in protecting our vision health (5). This is because apart from being rich in antioxidants, it also has various essential vitamins and minerals like zinc.

We need an adequate amount of zinc in our body for the proper functioning of our optical nerves. Use honey eye drops regularly to protect your vision health.

7. Relieves Conjunctivitis

We all, at some point in time or the other, fall victim to the pink eye and are forced to wear sunglasses to prevent it from spreading.

This condition is even more prevalent in small children, making them all agitated and irritated from watery eyes and itching.

Well, several studies have pointed out that honey eye drops may relieve allergic conjunctivitis and maintain ocular surface health (5).

8. Reduces Eye Wrinkles

We all afraid of signs of aging that throw us off the hook even before we start feeling old. Thankfully, apart from treating eye disorders, honey is also amazing in reducing wrinkles and fine lines around our eyes (9).

You just need to apply some honey on your closed eyes and let it rest for 15 minutes. Then, wash it off with warm water.

Quick Tip

Additionally, you can use honey around your eyes after mixing it with saline water, coconut oil, or jojoba oil.

9. Treats Sore Eyes

From staying up the entire night to being a victim of an eye infection, there are many reasons that lead to sore eyes. However, you can get rid of this puffiness by using honey (6). Consume honey regularly, and you will be okay in no time.

10. Heals Eye Infection

Have you ever used honey for eye infection? Honey is coined to be the best remedy for curing all sorts of eye infections, whether they are caused due to bacteria, virus, or any other microorganisms. As we already know, honey has antibacterial properties, which make it essential in the cure of eye infections (7).

All you need to do is mix equal quantities of honey and boiling water and apply this solution on your eye with the help of a cotton ball. Do it daily for best results.

11. Works As An Optic Nerve Tonic

Honey can also act as an optic nerve tonic (12). It helps in increasing the production of nitric oxide that is required for efficient blood flow to the optic nerves. So, start using honey now to ensure better vision in the future.

12. Improves Eye Lens Protein Oxidation

Whether you add it to food or use it as an eyewash, utilizing honey on a regular basis can improve eye lens oxidation, which provides you with long-lasting good vision (13).

13. Can Help In Lightening Eye Color

It might come as a surprise, but it has been proved time and again that you can use honey to lighten your eye color, that too naturally.

To lighten eyes with honey, you will need to have some patience and the correct ingredients in proper proportions. Use pure honey and water for eyes to obtain the best results.

What You Need

• 1 drop of raw honey
• 5 drops of warm bottled water

What You Need To Do

1. Add a drop of honey in five drops of water and mix well. You can also take a higher amount of both the ingredients in the ratio of 1:5 for storage purposes.
2. Store the solution in a clean bottle. Put three drops of this solution every morning and evening in your eyes to light them.

Make sure you store the solution in a cool and dark place.

A blogger shares her experience of using raw and organic honey, typically at a 50/50 ratio with hot water, as an eye drop. She writes, “So the honey method is best used on brown eyes who want to go to a lighter shade of brown (i).” However, she emphasizes that “the honey method is not for those who want quick results….For instance, my eyes were dark brown. I’ve been doing the honey method on and off for a little over a year now.. my eyes are a nice medium brown.”

Caution: Putting anything in your eyes without proper consultation can lead to loss of vision. So, consult your doctor before taking this big step.

Manuka honey, a type of honey from New Zealand, has been gaining popularity for its various therapeutic properties. Find out in the next section how it benefits the eyes.

Manuka Honey For Eyes

Manuka honey may help alleviate dryness in the eyes by reducing the evaporation of the tear film on the eyes. Its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties may also support overall eye comfort and health (8). This natural remedy is being explored as an alternative to commercial eye drops, offering a potential solution for individuals seeking relief from dry eye-related discomfort. However, consult with a healthcare professional before using Manuka honey products for eye issues to minimize any negative effects like eye irritation or discomfort.

Check out the next section for different ways to incorporate honey into your eyecare routine.

How To Use Honey For Eyes

The uses of honey are varied. It is popular as an external application as well as used for internal consumption. We are acquainted with many foods where honey is an essential ingredient. However, it is important to know how one may apply this liquid gold externally as well.

1. Eyewash

You need a teaspoon each of honey and warm bottled water. Dissolve honey in the warm water and let it cool down for some time. You may also refrigerate it for faster cooling. Use the solution as an eyewash when it is cool.

2. Eye Drops

For making honey eye drops, you should always go for fresh comb honey. Dissolve this honey well in the proportionate amount of distilled boiled water. Use the solution twice or thrice a day, depending on its density.

Tip: While you make the honey eye drops at home, you should always remember not to store the solution for more than a week. You can make the solution on a regular basis. Do not worry if you experience an itching sensation immediately after applying the drops. This burning sensation is normal, and it will cool down gradually.

Quick Tip

You can also use Manuka honey as eye drops to relieve the signs of dry eyes like sore or itchy eyes and eyelids.

3. Topical Application

For making a soothing and relaxing eye mask, you can use egg white and vitamin E gel along with honey.

For the first mask, mix a teaspoon of honey with 2-3 drops of lemon juice and egg white and apply it under your eyes. Wash it after 10-15 minutes.

Put a tablespoon of vitamin E gel and a teaspoon honey in a small container and whisk well. Use this as an eye mask thrice a week for best results.

A Word Of Caution

Our eyes are really precious. Hence, we need to look out for all the possible risks associated with any product we put in our eyes, and the same goes for honey. Let’s take a look at what you need to consider before using honey for eyes:

1. If you have any previous allergy to pollens and other bee-related sensitivity, avoid using honey in your eyes. It can aggravate the infection and cause temporary loss of vision.
2. Many types of honey can be fairly acidic (pH 3.4-6.1), so it can cause serious discomfort in your eyes. Hence, make sure that the honey you are using is not acidic.
3. Using honey that is not high quality or improperly diluted can cause problems like irritation or discomfort. To avoid such problems, make sure the honey is organic and pure and comes from a trusted place.

Infographic: Amazing Benefits Of Honey For Eyes

Honey is not just one of the popular natural nutritive sweeteners, it has wonderful benefits for the eyes- the antibacterial properties of honey help in managing many eye ailments. While there is a long list of honey benefits, there are some amazing benefits of it you should be aware of before using. Check out the infographic below to learn about some amazing benefits of honey for the eyes.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is honey good for dark circles?

Yes, honey is good for reducing dark circles. Apply a little amount of honey around your eyes before going to sleep. You may wash it off after 15 minutes or leave it on overnight.

Is raw honey good for eye bags?

Honey has anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing, and healing properties. It also contains powerful antioxidants that may help reduce swelling and possibly help relieve eye bags (1). However, further research is needed to confirm these claims.

Can I use milk and honey for my eyes?

Yes. Honey and milk are a good combination for the skin, as studies have shown that this mixture may boost skin healing processes (14). Honey can soothe sore and tired eyes, while milk may aid in treating dry eyes (15).

Illustration: How To Use Honey For Eyes - 13 Useful Ways

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Discover the amazing benefits of Manuka honey eye drops! Watch this video to learn how honey can help reduce inflammation, improve eye health, and more!

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Vignesh DevrajBAMS, MD

 

Dr. Vignesh Devraj is the founder and chief physician of Sitaram Beach Retreat, Kerala. He is also an international speaker on Ayurveda, Natural Healing, Meditation, and Transformation and has over 22 years of experience.

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Tanya ChoudharyHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Tanya is an ISSA certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition. She specializes in writing articles on ingredients that benefit skin, hair, and health. She believes in the right health and lifestyle practices and strives to promote the same to everyone around her.

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Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Moksha GandhiHealth & Wellness Writer

Moksha is a health and wellness writer and a certified diet and nutrition coach. Her passion for science and writing has helped her excel in crafting evidence-based articles. Her previous experience in writing science-based research papers ensures that her articles are grounded in research and provide practical tips that are reader-focused.

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