If you wake up with itchy, irritated, pasted shut eyes, you may have pink eye. Pink eye spreads as fast as the latest Hollywood gossip, and is dreaded by parents, teachers, and child care professionals alike. The good news is the worst of the symptoms only lasts for approximately 2-4 days. Comfort becomes the main objective for the afflicted individual and his/her care givers.

Causes

Conjunctivitis or pink eye is caused by allergens, a viral or bacterial infection. Both the viral and bacterial strains are highly contagious, may affect one or both eyes, and are associated with the common cold. The most common cause of pink eye is viral. Children and adults alike are susceptible to pink eye, but bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children than adults. The result of pink eye in infants may be due to an incompletely opened tear duct.

Signs and Symptoms

Whatever the cause of the conjunctivitis, the symptoms are the same. If the cause is from a virus, the discharge may be clear, whereas the result from the bacterial strain may cause a thick yellow discharge. The symptoms include:
• Redness in one or both eyes
• Itchiness in one or both eyes
• Blurred vision and sensitivity to light
• A gritty feeling in one or both eyes
• A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night
• Tearing or watering of the eyes

Treatment

• Wash Hands. Because the infection is so contagious, it is imperative that you wash your hands often and thoroughly throughout the day, especially after direct contact with the affected eye such as scratching or rubbing your eye. This will aid in preventing the spread of pink eye.
• Apply steeped tea bag onto eye to soothe. Herbal teas contain natural antibodies and aid in healing.
• Use boric acid rinse (can be found in soft contact saline solution).
• Apply hot compresses several times a day.
• Rinse with jasmine water solution:
Fill a pint sized jar to the lip with distilled water.
Add 7-10 jasmine flowers.
Cover with a clean lid or saucer, and let sit overnight.
Drop solution into the eyes with a flower to rinse and soothe-great for yellow discharge.
• Add Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) by drops to distilled water, and apply with cotton balls.
• Calendula is a natural antiseptic, and will help clear conjunctivitis due to allergens. Use as a compress and eye wash.
• Breast milk contains natural antibodies that fight the infection. Seems a little strange I know, but it’s proven to work especially in infants and children, and is safe and natural.

-Anne

Do you have any home remedies for Pink Eye? Comment and share them with us!

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