Watery or dry eyes; itching, burning, or stinging eyes; red eyes, the sensation of something being stuck in your eye, a rust stain in your eye if the foreign body is metal, eye pain, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision are some of the symptoms of eye irritation, which can be caused by dust, smoke, or other airborne irritants, eye makeup, tiredness, dry eye, or infection.
Equally irritating is a foreign body in the eye, such as grit, sand, dust, or fragments of wood, plastic, paint, or metal.
The following remedies may make your eyes feel more comfortable but do them under sterile conditions:
• Mix one teaspoon of dried eyebright with two cups of boiling water. Let steep for 30 minutes, then strain. Soak a clean washcloth in the solution and place over closed eyes for 10 minutes.
• For dry eyes, take 1000 milligrams of flaxseed oil twice daily. This helps to encourage tear production and moisturize eyes.
• Add one drop of chamomile essential oil to a cup of warm water, soak two cotton balls in the solution, squeeze them out, and then apply to your closed eyes for 10 minutes.
Here are some practical measures that you can take for prevention:
• Wear sunglasses on windy days to protect them from airborne particles
• Avoid smoky places
• Replace your eye makeup regularly, if you keep it too long it will harbor bacteria
• Spray household products and other eye irritants well away from your face, and always use only in a well-ventilated area.
• Don’t rub your eyes, especially if you have been handing irritants.
SOURCE: 1000 home remedies, safe and sensible treatments for everyday aliments, Anova Books, 2011
