Home Remedies For Pink Eye In Adults And Children

Home remedies for pink eye ( conjunctivitis ) . This condition affects the eyes and is quite painful. They become red, inflamed at the whole surface, itching and there is excessive watering from the eyes. The condition is really troublesome but it usually improves on its own. One can relieve it faster using home remedies for pink eye.

When I was a child, I hated getting a pink eye ( or red eye as I referred it then ). My mom had a host of home remedies for this condition, very simple, all homemade and easy to use. Lots more home remedies for pink eye are with people, many of them from their grandmothers. Here, I present a collection of simple homemade treatments for getting relief from a pink eye.

Lets get a little background on pink eye. It is generally a viral infection, but can also be a bacterial infection. In severe cases, pus starts to exude from the eyes. The symptoms of pink eye are redness, swelling of the eyelids and obviously difficulty in viewing from the eye that is infected. The home remedies provide complete relief from all the symptoms of pink eye.

pink eye cat
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These are the things that work for a pink eye in adults

1. Fill a bucket with really cold water and insert your face in it
Lets play " finding the coin in water ". Its a nice and easy remedy for a pink eye. 


"If you have access to naturally pure water, like a fresh water lake, mountain river or a mountain stream and you are sure it is not contaminated, then you can wash your face with that water. Naturally pure water contains minerals which are antibacterial and anti-viral. It is very healing. Cold water soothes the eyes. "

" Spring water is absolutely awesome for pink eye. "

cold water wash for pink eye
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2. Use an eye drop
 Get an eye drop and use it to clean the eyes. Just use any regular eye drop that you have been using. Adhere to the usage instructions. Most eye drops are unfit for use one month after opening the vial, so make sure you have taken care of that.
Eye drops are usually anti-bacterial in nature. But, even if your eye infection is viral in nature, it sure helps. Eye drops cleans the eye off dirt, pus, bacteria and reduce swelling.

Eye drops for pink eye
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3. Potato
Take a raw potato. Cut out a thin slice without the peel. Wash it in cold water and then apply it on the upper and lower eyelid from the outside. It really reduces the trouble in a pink eye. Doing this once every few hours keep the redness and swelling under control.
Why it works ?
Potato contains anti-swelling compounds. It takes away the swelling on the eyelids, reducing strain on eyes and helping them recover faster.

potato for pink eye
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4. Black Coffee
Dark black aromatic coffee is pleasing to the senses. It is bitter and can be used to take away a pink eye.



black coffee for pink eye
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5. Complete rest
If you have conjunctivitis, do not strain your eyes further. It can lead to further problems like pain, under eye circles etc if you do not take rest. Keep eyes clean and relax, generally in low light conditions. If you wish for entertainment, listen to songs or something. Working with your eyes in mild conjunctivitis really compounds the problem, delaying recovery and creating inroads for more trouble the next day. So, as soon as you suspect a pink eye, take rest.

Rest for pink eye
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6. Garlic
Since pink eye is an infection ( in most cases ), bacterial or viral , it makes sense to use the nature's most commonly available antibiotic. Garlic is excellent for a pink eye, but it burns a lot. Here is how to use it.



Garlic clove for pink eye
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7. Warm washcloth
From time to time, perform this home remedy for some relief from pink eye troubles. Take a washcloth and dip it in warm water ( not hot ). Bring it close to the eyes and let them take the steam. Then close your eyes and place the washcloth over them. The warm water provides a soothing sensation. The heat may help you shed some tears which is good for a pink eye.



8. Use tea bags over eyes 
Close your eyes and place cool tea bags over the eyelids. This remedy just reduces the swelling.


" This also reduces dark circles under the eyes. "


Tea bags for pink eye
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9. Sugar water
Add some sugar to some warm water. Stir well so that it dissolves completely. Then add 1 - 2 drops in the affected eye using a dropper. If you do not have a dropper at hand, a straw would do as well. Do this 3 times a day for relief from a pink eye.

Sugar water for pink eye
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10. Honey in milk 
Get fat free or skimmed milk. Boil it and then cool it. Now, use a small vial to keep this milk. Add few drops of honey. Mix well and pour one drop each in both eyes. Then, clean the eyes by splashing water or submerging in water. See if this remedy works. Some people may not like it because of the viscous fluid. Most people prefer a clear, water based eye drop. But, if you have no problem using this, then it should work well for you.

12. Pure Honey drops 
If you are averse to applying milk ( especially the pasteurized one ), then you can put pure honey in the eye for a pink eye. Now, people of ancient times used to put honey directly, without diluting it. But, for our purpose, it becomes a little too viscous and discomforting. So, we add it to water. Here is the recipe fo pink eye drops made from honey.



Honey for pink eye
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13. Salt water
Its been too sweet up until now - the honey, the sugar. Salt water is also good for a pink eye. Here is the technique to use.



Salt water for pink eye
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14. Slice some onion
We all hate cutting onion, but a pink eye is the perfect time to do it. Onion makes us shed loads of tears , which is extremely beneficial for relieving a pink eye. Get some onions and start slicing them. You would feel the same old burning sting in the eyes and you would be literally weeping. After you are done, wash the eyes and relax.

Onion for pink eye
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15. Chamomile flowers eye wash
Boil a few tablespoon of chamomile flowers in water. Strain this liquid and let it cool. Once it below room temperature, use this water to wash the eyes. It is the Native American remedy for this common eye condition.

" You can directly apply a chamomile tea bag after making the tea. It reduces the pain of a pink eye ."

16. Berberis Aristata wash
This herb comes from Himalayas in India and is mentioned in ancient Indian medicine system - Ayurveda as Daruharidra. It is used as ingredient in some herbal eye drops. So, research around and find a eye drop which contains berberis aristata. It works great in reducing inflammation in case of conjunctivitis. If you have a herbal eye drop containing this, pink eye would just be a matter of few hours before it disappears. 

17. Coriander leaves wash
Boil some coriander leaves in water. Similar to process described in " Chamomile Flowers eye wash " prepare the eye wash. Strain out the liquid, cool it out and then wash the eyes with it. See if this works.

18. Cineraria maritima Eye Drops 
I have an eye drop which contains cineraria maritima as ingredient, which I use daily. It is an excellent eye cleanser, great for preventing cataract and glaucoma in the long run. I did a little info searching on this and found that it works to relieve a pink eye as well. Cineraria maritima is a component in many homeopathic eye drops.

" It stings a lot. I cannot recollect anything that hurts as much as a cineraria maritima eye drop. It really strong. So, avoid using this on kinds and babies. "


19. Ancient Greek remedy Eyebright
It is a flowering herb that was used by the ancient Greeks as a remedy for many eye problems like dry eyes , including pink eye.It is named for its beneficial effects on the eyes. How to use it ? The mechanism is in the form of an eyewash or an eye drop.You can easily get a herbal eye drop containing Eyebright.  This herb earns acclaim from its brilliant ability to treat pink eye. 

Most of these remedies work in adults. However, in children, it may not be suitable to use herbs and substances like honey. One should always consult a doctor regarding the use of certain substances and what interaction they may have with any other medication.

Pink eye in Babies 
It feels bad to see a toddler troubled by a pink eye. But, one should be cautious when using home remedies on kids. Some of the remedies that you can try are - Black Coffee, Tea bags, Warm washcloth and cold water. Avoid herbs, honey and onion.

Pink eye caused by Allergies
People who suffer from allergies know that one of the most common symptoms of allergy is a red eye. It is essential to spot the allergen and avoid it if you are to get relief from recurring pink eyes. It can be pollen, dust, a plant, a food, or any other thing.

Some precautions to take when you are down with a pink eye.

  • Avoid looking in the mirror for long times. It can worsen a pink eye. Just relax and keep applying remedies. 
  • Avoid poking in the eyes. It hurts and your eyes don't like. 
  • Do not rub the eyes. Instead apply a potato to relieve the itching. Some people have itching as a symptom of pink eye. 
  • Avoid using eye makeup for a few days. Pink eye generally lasts 3 - 4 days naturally. Using home remedies helps you recover from pink eye in a day or even faster overnight. So, skip the mascara.
  • Clean the contact lenses thoroughly before putting them on. Dirty contact lens is a primary cause of pink eye.  

Some other remedies for pink eyes :