There’s nothing more irritating than itchy and watery eyes. It can make you feel uncomfortable and affect your daily routine, especially if you work on a computer or spend a lot of time outdoors. Sometimes it can even lead to blurred vision, redness, and swelling. While there are different causes of itchy eyes like allergies, irritants, or infections, the good news is that you can find relief from the comfort of your home. In this blog post, we’ll share some effective home remedies that can help you naturally get rid of itchy eyes.
chy eyes can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common cause is eye allergies. Allergies can be triggered by exposure to pollen or pet dander and can lead to the release of histamine by the immune system which can cause eye irritation and itching. Other causes of itchy eyes include environmental pollutants, infection, and certain eye conditions.
Dry eyes can also cause itchy eyes. When you do not produce enough of the right kind of tears to keep the surface of your eye moist and comfortable, this can lead to dry eye syndrome. One of the symptoms of dry eye syndrome is an itchy or scratchy sensation in the eye. Other symptoms include redness, burning, and a feeling of grittiness. There are many possible causes of dry eye syndrome, including ageing, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases.
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 perform a physical examination, blood tests, an allergy skin test, and a 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.
You can do some things to reduce the chances of developing itchy eyes. Consider the following tips to create a better environment and reduce possible triggers.
Vacuum the inside of your home regularly to eliminate dust and reduce pet dander. Instead of keeping your windows and doors open, run your air conditioner to prevent outdoor allergens from entering your house.
Remember to keep your ventilation system’s air filters and air ducts clean. 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; avoid smoking indoors whenever possible.
If your eyes are itchy, avoid rubbing them at all costs. Rubbing itchy eyes will release more histamine and make your symptoms even worse.
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, shower as soon as you come home. Do not get in your bed, under a blanket, or touch furniture after exposure to outdoor allergens. Use your dryer rather than allowing your clothes to hang dry outside and get exposed to pollen.
Sometimes no matter what you do, itchy eyes happen. Here are some home remedies to try to relieve your discomfort.
Take a clean washcloth or small towel and soak it in cold water. 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 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.
Wash a fresh cucumber and cut it into thin slices. Place the cucumber slices in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until 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 is one of the most popular remedies for irritation in your eyes. 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.
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.
You can create a homemade eye rinse with simple ingredients such as salt and water. A saltwater solution is best used for painfully itchy eyes. 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 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 daily to wash away allergens and relieve itchy eye symptoms.
Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve itchy, watery, and red eyes. Green tea also provides many other health benefits, so 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 tea bowl into the refrigerator to speed up the process. Use the green tea solution to wash your eyes several times daily until you feel relief. Apply cold water to your eyes to wash away the tea solution.
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 twice or thrice daily 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.
Clean a raw potato thoroughly, remove the skin, and then rewash it 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.
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.
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, mix it at a 1:6 ratio with clean, distilled water, and then drip it into your eyes. You can also purchase artificial tears with HA in them.
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 drink it!
You can keep the juices separate or mix them to add flavour. 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 daily. Consult with your doctor if your eyes continue itching.
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.
