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| Woman suffering from dry eyes | Pic by visualeyesmalvern.com |
There are several options for treating eye pain naturally that you can try. That way, various annoying eye pain complaints, such as red, dry, watery, or painful eyes, can be reduced and you can move around comfortably.
Eye pain is usually caused by irritation, allergies, or infection. Eye infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, even fungi or parasites. Eye pain usually gets better on its own within 1-2 weeks.
However, symptoms of eye pain that interfere with comfort can sometimes limit daily activities. Well, to relieve it, there is a way to treat eye pain naturally that can be done yourself at home.
Some Common Symptoms and Causes of Eye Pain
Eye pain is often caused by conjunctivitis. This condition can cause several symptoms, such as:
- Red eye
- Watery
- Feel itchy
- Painful
- Swollen
Although it can get better on its own, eye pain can also sometimes be caused by some serious eye diseases, such as keratitis, blepharitis, uveitis, and glaucoma.
These diseases will usually cause symptoms of eye pain that persist or get worse and are accompanied by several other symptoms, such as purulent eyes, visual disturbances, easy glare or sensitivity to light, fever, and severe headaches.
Choice of how to treat eye pain naturally
To relieve complaints that are classified as mild, there are several natural ways to treat eye pain that you can do, namely:
1. Compress the tea bag
The antioxidant content in tea, such as green tea, black tea, or chamomile tea, is believed to relieve eye complaints, such as swollen, dry, and red eyes.
To use it, first chill the wet tea bag in the refrigerator for a few minutes. After cooling, compress the tea bag on the sore eye for about 20-30 minutes and do it at least 2-3 times a day.
2. Drops of sterile brine or saline solution
Salt has antibacterial properties so it can fight infection-causing germs that enter the eye. Salt water is also good for cleaning the eyes and treating dry eyes. Saline solutions are usually over-the-counter and available at pharmacies.
To use saline solution as a natural way to treat sore eyes, you can put a few drops of saline solution on the sore eye 3-4 times a day. After that, clean your eyes with a tissue and avoid rubbing your eyes with your hands.
3. Warm compress
Warm compresses can also be used as a natural way to treat eye pain. The use of warm compresses can overcome eye irritation, red eyes, and dry eyes. In addition, warm compresses can also relax the eye muscles and reduce eye pain.
How to use a warm compress on the eye is to soak a clean, soft cloth in warm water, then lift the cloth and squeeze the water. After that, compress the sore eye with this warm cloth for 15–30 minutes. Do this compress as much as 2-3 times a day.
4. Cold compress
Not much different from warm compresses, cold compresses can also be used to relieve eye pain complaints. However, the difference is, cold compresses can also be used to reduce swelling and bruising in the eyes.
The compression method is almost the same. It's just that the cloth is soaked in cold water or put in the refrigerator (freezer) for a while before use. Then, place the cloth on the swollen eye or eyelid for 10-15 minutes.
Eye Pain Prevention Steps
In order to avoid eye pain, you can apply the following preventive steps:
- Wash your hands regularly, especially when your hands are dirty, after sneezing, after taking out the trash, and before touching your eyes
- Avoid the habit of rubbing your eyes
- Avoid sharing towels, handkerchiefs, or make-up tools with others
- Change bedding and sheets every week
- Keep contact lenses clean and replace them regularly
How to treat eye pain naturally can relieve mild complaints in the eyes. However, if the eye pain you feel is quite severe, does not improve after 1-2 weeks, or is actually getting worse, you should immediately see an ophthalmologist so that the appropriate eye pain medication can be given.