How to Cure Itchy Eyes at Home

An attack of itchy eyes can be frustrating. Perhaps your eyes itch all the time during seasons, or maybe certain environments cause your eyes to start getting all scratchy. Whatever leads to your itchy eyes, there is little doubt that it is an enjoyable experience.

Anyone who experiences this issue wants to find relief, and they want it fast. Itchy eyes often come with watering and vision impairment, and nobody has time to mess with that.

It is no surprise then that people have come up with a range of home remedies to treat this problem. There are so many options that you should easily be able to find something that works for you.

Before getting to the remedies, though, it can help to identify the reason behind your itchy eyes. Sometimes finding the cause will naturally lead you to a solution that prevents the issue from happening ever again.

The Cause of Itchy Eyes

What does it mean when your eye itches?  Allergies are the leading factor of what causes itchy eyes.  Red itchy eyes, dry, itchy eyes, watery eyes, swollen eyelids, blurred vision, swollen eyes, wheezing, difficulty breathing, running nose, and sneezing are all allergy symptoms that coincide itchy eye causes.

If you only suffer from itchy eyes during certain times of the year, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is likely the cause.  More adults are affected by conjunctivitis than children, but these allergies can develop at any age.  Fall and spring are the two seasons where symptoms are the most severe.  The high presence of pollen, grass, and weeds lead to inside corner of eye itches.

Another cause of itchy eyes is an eye disorder called blepharitis.  Bacteria and skin conditions that lead to itchy eye produce blepharitis, which is not contagious.  With this skin disorder, it is common for your eyelids to get scaly, dry, itchy, and in some cases, your eyelashes can fall out and grow back irregularly.

If you wear contact lenses, it is possible that you are allergic to your contact lens solution.  Inflammation, redness, eye itching, and discomfort are all symptoms of an allergic reaction to your contact lens solution.

Thimerosal is the compound in lens solution that causes the reaction.  If you discover that contact solution is the culprit of your itchy red eyes, try to find a new one that does not contain thimerosal in the ingredients.

Treatment for Itchy Eyes

See an ophthalmologist or another eye care specialist to help diagnose a solution for how to stop itchy eyes.  Your eye doctor may determine that allergies are the cause, and refer you to a dermatologist for further examination.

To diagnose specific allergies, your doctor will preform a physical examination, blood tests, an allergy skin test, and food allergy test.  Your doctor can suggest certain lifestyle and diet changes based on your medical history and symptoms.

If allergens cause your itchy eyes, do your best to avoid those specific allergens.  If your work or living situation makes it impossible to avoid these allergens, your doctor may recommend oral antihistamines, eye drops, and decongestants for itchy eye relief.  If you work outdoors or work with chemicals, make sure to wear a facemask and goggles.

Tips for Preventing Itchy Eyes

There are some things that you can do to reduce the chances of developing itchy eyes. Consider the following tips to create a better environment and reduce possible triggers.

Clean thoroughly

Vacuum the inside of your home on a regular basis to eliminate dust and reduce pet dander.  Instead of keeping your windows and doors open, run your air conditioner to prevent outdoor allergens from getting inside your house.

Remember to keep the air filters and air ducts clean in your ventilation system.  Avoid letting your pets in the bedroom, or other areas of the house you spend lots of time.  Do not smoke in rooms with poor ventilation, and avoid smoking indoors whenever possible.

Avoid Rubbing

If your eyes are itchy, avoid rubbing them at all costs.  Rubbing itchy eyes will release more histamine and make your symptoms even worse.

Keep an eye on the pollen

Outdoor pollen counts are the highest between 5:00 am and 10:00 am, so watch your local news reports for pollen reports.

If you go outside, take a shower as soon as you come home.  Do not get in your bed, under a blanket, or touch furniture after being exposed to outdoor allergens.  Use your dryer, rather than allowing your clothes to hang-dry outside and get exposed to pollen.

Relieving Itchy Eyes

Sometimes no matter what you do, itchy eyes happen. Here are some home remedies to try to relieve your discomfort.

Cold compress

Take a clean washcloth or small towel and soak it in cold water.  Lie down and place the cool, wet cloth over your eyes for roughly 10 to 20 minutes.  Repeat this process as often as necessary to find relief.

A soft, cold, and wet cloth will not only help stop your eyes from itching, but it will also minimize swelling, inflammation, and pain.  You can also buy and eye pack, keep it in the refrigerator and apply to your eyes in the morning when your red, puffy eyes are often at their worst.

Cucumber

Wash a fresh cucumber and cut it into thin slices.  Place the cucumber slices in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until they are cold.  Lie down on your back and place a slice of cucumber over each eye.  Relax with your eyes closed for 10 to 20 minutes.  The anti-irritation properties of cucumbers will reduce swelling, inflammation, and puffiness that cause your itchy red eyes.

Cold milk

One of the most popular remedies for irritation in your eyes is cold milk.  Pour cold milk into a glass or bowl.  Take two cotton balls and place them into the bowl of cool milk.  Remove the milk-soaked cotton balls from the bowl and dab them on your eyes for instant relief.

You can also lie down, and place the cotton balls over your closed eyes for 10 minutes, instead of dabbing them.  To gain the most effective results, use cold milk cotton balls as a remedy every morning and every night during allergy season.

Rosewater

Purchase a bottle of pure rosewater to soothe and cool your eyes.  At least twice a day you should rinse your eyes with rosewater.  If you notice the corner of the eye is itchy and red, use rosewater eye drops for relief.

Put three drops of rosewater into each eye, multiple times throughout the day.  The rosewater will not only help with the itching but will also help clear up any redness you are experiencing.

Water and salt

You can create a homemade eye rinse with simple ingredients such as salt and water.  A saltwater solution is best used for eyes that are painfully itchy.  If any debris or allergens are collecting in the inside corner of your eyes, antibacterial saltwater will wash it away and kill any remaining germs or bacteria.

Boil a cup of distilled water with a teaspoon of salt until the salt is completely dissolved.  Once boiled, pour the liquid into a cup or bowl and allow the water to cool down before applying it to your eyes.  Use this water and salt solution several times a day to wash away allergens and relieve your itchy eye symptoms.

Green tea

Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve itchy, watery, and red eyes.  Green tea also provides many other health benefits, so you should always keep some in your home.  Boil two green tea bags in one cup of distilled water.

Pour the boiled tea into a bowl and allow it cool.  You can even put the bowl of tea into the refrigerator to speed up the process.  Use the green tea solution to wash your eyes several times per day until you feel relief.  Apply cold water to your eyes to wash away the tea solution.

Aloe Vera

Extract aloe vera gel from a fresh aloe leaf, or buy the gel already extracted.  Mix the gel with one teaspoon of honey, and a half-cup of elderberry blossom tea.  Use the aloe and tea solution as eyewash at least two or three times per day until you see results.

Aloe vera has natural moisturizing and soothing properties to relieve eyes that are sore, itchy, and dry.  You can also use aloe vera juice as an alternative to the elderberry blossom tea mixture.

Raw potatoes

Clean a raw potato thoroughly, remove the skin, and then wash it again with cold water.  Cut the potato into thin slices and place them in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until they get cold.

Lie down on your back and place the cold, raw, potato slices over your eyes for up to 20 minutes. Repeat this process for three or four consecutive days, before going to sleep at night.  Raw potatoes have astringent properties that reduce inflammation and redness in your eyes.

Fenugreek

You can create a paste with fenugreek seeds to relieve your symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.  Soak the fenugreek seeds in cold water for at least eight hours.  Mix the seeds thoroughly until they form a paste.  Close your eyes, and apply a generous portion of the paste to each eye for 20 minutes.  Use cold water to wash the paste off your eyes and face.

Hyaluronic acid

This acid occurs naturally in the human body and functions as a safe, effective lubricant, among other things. This acid is particularly well-suited for use in the eyes as it does not interfere with their functioning or disrupt the delicate balance between each eye’s surface and your eyelids. In fact, hyaluronic acid is so effective as an eye lubricant that it is a staple in over-the-counter artificial tears.

To use this remedy for your own itchy eye issue, you can purchase hyaluronic acid directly and mix it at a 1:6 ratio with clean, distilled water, then drip this solution into your eyes. You can also purchase artificial tears with HA in them.

Vegetable juices

Vegetable juice is a popular homemade solution to relieve sore, red, and itchy eyes.  Extract juice from raw, fresh vegetables such at carrots and spinach.  Rather than applying the juice to your eyes, just simply drink it!

You can keep the juices separate, or mix them together to add flavor.  Drink fresh vegetable juice twice per day until your symptoms dissipate.  Vegetable juice has plenty of other health benefits, so you do not need to stop your daily juice regimen as soon as your eyes feel better.

There are not any negative side effects to drinking vegetable juice on a daily basis.  Consult with your doctor if your eyes continue itching.

Wrapping Up

Itchy eyes are a bother, but there are a lot of things you can do to either avoid the problem or treat it quickly. Consider everything you’ve learned so you can find a way to get relief.

Remember knowing the cause will go a long way towards helping you find a cure or treatment. So, always take time to figure out why your eyes are itching. If you need to, seek the help of a doctor who can narrow down your issue.