Eye problems can be very uncomfortable, so those affected often turn to practical tips for treating eye infections. After all, it can be downright frustrating to wake up in the morning feeling like you’re going to climb the walls. One eye is watering and stinging as if someone had jabbed a red-hot needle into it. The first instinct—which isn’t necessarily wrong—might be to go straight to an eye doctor and get a prescription for eye drops. But this isn’t always possible. However, if symptoms are severe or the inflammation persists, seeing a doctor is still urgently necessary, because the eyes are very sensitive. That’s why your first-aid kit should include eye drops (check the expiration date!) and compresses.
Tips on What to Do If Your Eyes Are Irritated
If, for example, you’ve caught a draft or the eye irritation is caused by a foreign object, there are various methods for providing immediate relief. Surprisingly, a warm foot bath can often be effective in providing relief. Applying compresses with fresh quark directly to the eyes can also help. If you have the time, eye baths with honey—which need to be repeated about every two hours—are also helpful. To make them, bring half a tablespoon of honey to a boil in half a liter of water. Another tip for treating eye inflammation is to apply a cloth soaked in oak bark broth. To make the decoction, take a handful of oak bark and boil it in half a liter of water, strain the mixture through a sieve, and let the liquid cool. If the compresses are changed every half hour, the inflammation should heal fairly quickly. For swollen eyes, place two thick slices of avocado or cucumber on your closed eyelids until the swelling gradually subsides. A tea bag filled with fennel or chamomile tea is also recommended. It should be slightly moistened and, if necessary, can be secured to the eye with a band-aid.
The Barley Grain
Another bothersome eye problem is a stye, a pus-filled inflammation of the glands on the eyelids. If a person experiences frequent styes—which are generally harmless—it may be a sign of a weakened immune system or diabetes. The inflammation is contagious—which is why meticulous hygiene is important! Moist heat does not help with a stye, but a paste made from a boiled potato, an egg yolk, and milk—applied to a cloth and then placed on the stye—can be effective. A tea made from two heaping teaspoons of eyebright and half a liter of water is also suitable as a compress. Red light therapy for up to 15 minutes, three times a day, can also be very soothing.
