Numerous poets have penned lines referring to the eyes as the windows of your soul. Therefore, an eye infection must truly trouble your soul. Of course they are also bothersome and irritating for your body as well. With our 15 natural and effective home remedies for eye infection you can cure both body and soul and be back to your poetic form in no time.
Please keep in mind that these natural remedies are not all inclusive cures. For serious eye health conditions you are advised to consult a health care professional.
15 Home Remedies for Eye Infection to Have a Clear View
1. Chamomile
When it comes to getting calm relief, chamomile is one of the first things we think of and it is also a top item on our list of home remedies for eye infection. As anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents, the collection of compounds in chamomile are second to none and can help bring the same soothing relief to your eyes as sipping a cup of tea brings to your mood.
What to do:
- Boil a cup of water and remove it from heat.
- Add in 1 tsp of dried chamomile flowers.
- Cover and allow it to steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain out the liquid and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Use this solution with a clean cotton ball to cleanse your outer and inner eyes.
- Repeat several times a day as necessary.
2. Boric Acid
Dryness, redness, burning and tearing can all be treated with the mild antibacterial and antifungal properties of boric acid. Its effectiveness at accomplishing these tasks make it another top choice among the home remedies for eye infection.
What to do:
- Add 1/8 tsp of boric acid to 1 cup of boiling water.
- Allow the solution to cool.
- Strain the solution through a clean cheesecloth or coffee filter.
- Use the solution as an eye rinse.
- You can repeat this up to 3 times a day using fresh solution each time.
- Note that the slight sting will go away after a few seconds.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is also among the most effective home remedies for eye infection. Treating pink eye is this remedies strong point. The malic acid in unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is a potent antimicrobial agent, which can get rid of the bacteria, germs, debris and gunk that build up in your eyes and promote healing.
What to do:
- Mix 1 tsp raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in 8 oz. of water.
- Using a cotton ball, dip it into the solution and use it to cleanse around the outside of the infected eye or eyes.
- Repeat this every 3 to 4 hours until you have relief from the condition.
4. Breast Milk
It might surprise you to find breast milk on our list of home remedies for eye infection. It isn’t readily available to most of us, but this cure is especially meant for nursing babies and infants who might not be able to handle stronger remedies. The antibodies and immunoglobulin E in breast milk can fight off the bacteria and get rid of pink eye and other eye infections.
What to do:
- Place extracted breast milk in a small dish.
- Using an eye dropper, place 2 to 3 drops into the infected eye.
- Reapply every few hours as necessary.
5. Honey
Among the home remedies for eye infection, none are sweeter than honey and few are more effective. The natural antibacterial properties of raw honey are extremely effective at killing the bacteria causing your eye infection.
What to do:
- Mix equal parts of raw honey or manuka honey in distilled water.
- Dip a clean cotton ball into the solution and use it to cleanse the outside of the affected eye or eyes.
- Additionally, you can place a drop of honey directly in the eye.
- Use either of these remedies 2 to 3 times daily until symptoms improve.
6. Green Tea
Green tea is another of the potent home remedies for eye infection. The tannic acid in green tea can not only help keep the infection down, but provides relief to the itching and swelling of your eyes. The antioxidants and other phytonutrients in green tea will also promote healing.
What to do:
- Soak 2 green tea bags in hot water for a few seconds until soaked through.
- Remove the tea bags from the water, wring out the excess water and put them in the refrigerator to cool for 10 minutes or so.
- You can dip a cotton ball into the tea and use it as an eye cleanser while you wait for the tea bags to cool.
- Once cooled, place the tea bags on both of your eyes.
- Allow them to sit for 15 minutes.
- You can repeat this remedy 3 times daily until symptoms improve.
- If you don’t have green tea bags, you can use black tea as well.
7. Colloidal Silver
Also among the best home remedies for eye infection is colloidal silver. Colloidal silver acts in a little different manner than the other remedies. These drops draw infected cells to them electromagnetically and then are eliminated from the bloodstream, ridding you not only of the irritants, but the cause as well.
What to do:
- Place 2 drop of colloidal silver in each affected eye and blink to spread it around.
- You can repeat this remedy twice a day until the infection clears.
8. Euphrasia
Euphrasia, also known as eyebright is another effective treatment on our list of home remedies for eye infection. It is especially effective at treating conjunctivitis. Besides having infection fighting compounds, euphrasia helps dry out excess fluid and speeds the healing process.
What to do:
- Utilize 10% homeopathically mixed euphrasia eye drops a few times a day until the infection is gone.
- Or you can create your own solution by simmering 1 tsp of euphrasia herb in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes.
- Once the brew has cooled, you can strain it in a cheesecloth or coffee filter and then use it as an eye wash a couple times daily.
9. Saline Solution
A simple item on our list of home remedies for eye infection is saline solution. Used as a rinse, saline solution is able to wash out irritants and soothe the itch and inflammation of infected eyes.
What to do:
- Mix 1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of distilled water.
- Boil the solution for a few minutes and then allow it to cool completely.
- Use it to rinse the infected eyes a couple times each day.
10. Warm Compress
A warm compress is another simple solution on our list of home remedies for eye infection. This is especially effective for eliminating styes and conjunctivitis. The heat from the compress increases circulation in the area which promotes healing and reduces pain and swelling.
What to do:
- Soak a clean, lint free cloth in hot water until it is saturated and wring out the excess water.
- Hold the warm cloth to your eye for 5 minutes.
- Repeat this process for the space of 30 minutes.
- Clean away any discharge which came from your eyes during treatment.
- Repeat this several times daily.
- Note: if you have infection in both eyes, use a separate cloth for each eye.
11. Ginkgo Biloba
Typically associated with energy boosting and brain boosting, ginkgo biloba is also among our home remedies for eye infection. Ginkgo biloba extracts in conjunction with hyaluronic acid has been shown to be effective against conjunctivitis that is sometimes associated with seasonal allergies.
What to do:
- Look for ginkgo biloba with hyaluronic acid ophthalmic solution and use as directed.
- Alternatively, you might use a 10% ginkgo biloba extract solution as an outer eye wash.
12. Baby Shampoo
Most of us have been conditioned not to put shampoo in our eyes. Yet, baby shampoo is actually among the most effective home remedies for eye infection. The alkalinity in baby shampoo is what keeps it from stinging your eyes if it happens to get in them. That alkalinity helps to create an unfavorable environment for bacteria to grow and helps get rid of the infection.
What to do:
- Dip a clean cotton ball in baby shampoo and wipe your eyes with it.
- Dilute 3 drops of baby shampoo in 2 oz. of distilled water and use it as a rinse.
- Repeat this twice a day until the infection has subsided.
13. Cloves
One of the best home remedies for eye infection that is related to styes are cloves. The compound eugenol, found in cloves has antiseptic and analgesic qualities which can help reduce pain and itching while also eliminating the cause of the infection.
What to do:
- Rub a clove in a dab of water on a rough surface in order to create a paste.
- Apply this paste to the stye, being careful not to get it into your eye.
- Allow the paste to dry for several minutes before rinsing off.
- Repeat this several times a day until the stye is gone.
14. Turmeric
Also among the best home remedies for eye infection is turmeric. Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but it has antibacterial properties as well. The combination of those two properties spells relief for your eye infections.
What to do:
- Add 2 Tbsp of turmeric powder to 1 cup of boiled water.
- Soak a clean, lint-free cloth in the mixture and use it as a compress.
- Use this treatment 2 to 3 times a day until the infection clears.
15. Tulsi
Wrapping up our list of home remedies for eye infection is tulsi, most often referred to as holy basil. This potent herb has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which also help fight infection and get rid of inflammation and pain.
What to do:
- Soak tulsi, holy basil, leave in boiled water for at least 10 minutes and strain out the leaves.
- When the water has cooled a bit, soak a clean, lint-free cloth in the solution
- You can use this remedy a couple of times daily.
To the View
Eye infections don’t have to cloud your soul and make you miserable. Making use of our 15 home remedies for eye infection, you can be seeing things more clearly and the window to your soul can be left wide open. Try two or three of our remedies the next time you battle an eye infection.
Be sure to share your own remedies, recipes and success stories for relieving eye infection at home in the comments section below.
Images: depositphotos.com & pixabay.com.