4 Must-Have Natural Home Remedies for Common Eye Problems

When we get sick, we often turn to what we have at home first before venturing to the doctor’s office. From saltwater rinses for a sore throat to steam showers for congestion, natural remedies can bring relief and even healing. But what about home remedies for your eyes? What can we keep on hand to avoid annoying trips to the store or the eye doctor?

We’ve curated a list of four of our favorite home remedies to help treat various vision conditions. But, here’s an important caveat: however effective these remedies are, they are still only a means to reduce discomfort posed by certain vision conditions. We always encourage seeking your doctor’s advice if your symptoms persist.

1. Chamomile and Milk for Irritated Red Eyes

Irritated and red eyes can be some of the most painful eye symptoms. The worst thing about irritated eyes is that you often feel tempted to rub them, but as you’ve probably experienced, that doesn’t provide the relief you were hoping for. Instead, the irritation and redness get worse.

Many people turn to eye drops to get rid of red eyes, but that relief often wears off quickly. Before you know it, you’re putting drops in your eyes every 20 minutes. You also risk your eyes becoming dependent on these drops for tear production. So, what can you do to get rid of itchy eyes without eye drops?

Chamomile and milk are two great natural home remedies for red eyes. Both are inexpensive and easy to come by and, when used properly, can provide immediate and long-lasting relief to make eyes less red.

In addition to being a relaxing tea, chamomile makes a great cold compress. This flower is much more soothing than a regular cold compress because of its flavonoids. These flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate a variety of ocular discomforts. A recent study reviewed many ethnomedical uses for the plant and confirmed its pharmacological uses.

Making a chamomile compress is easy. All you need to do is soak the chamomile tea bags in lukewarm water. Lukewarm might not seem cold, but it will feel cold on the thin skin of your eyelids. Place the tea bags over your eyes and sit back and relax.

If you don’t have any chamomile on hand when irritation strikes, milk is the next best thing. It’s often used as a natural remedy for sunburnt skin. To use it as a treatment for red eyes, take a cotton ball soaked with milk and dab it lightly on the red and irritated area around the eye. Leave the milk until it dries, then wash it off with cool water. Your eyes should start to feel better on contact!

2. Fish Oil to Cure Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are probably the most common vision condition because so many factors can cause them: a change of season, digital eye strain, pollution, aging, hormonal changes – the list goes on. Dry eyes can affect almost anyone at any age. Again, eye drops are always the first thing people reach for when they have dry eyes. While these will provide temporary relief, the results won’t last.

What will last are the results you’ll get from fish oils. Luckily, this is a simple home remedy for dry eyes that is easily accessible and effective. Fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids help with tear production in the eyes. That’s why fish oil supplements are a go-to treatment for dry eyes.

One capsule supplement per day is enough to stimulate the natural lubricant in your eyes and regulate moisture levels. As an added bonus, because of the moisture they produce, they’ll also help alleviate itchy eyes.

We highly recommend that those who work on computers all day take a daily fish oil supplement. Digital eye strain affects more and more people every year and increases the risk of developing long-term dry eyes.

Another effective way to aid tear production in the eyes is to blink excessively. It may feel strange at first, but blinking quickly for short periods of time throughout the day is another natural home remedy that will keep them moist.

3. Vitamin Supplements for Cataracts

Currently, there is no non-surgical cure for cataracts. The best you can do if you have cataracts is to slow down their formation on the lens. Luckily, there are some simple natural remedies for cataracts that you can incorporate to both stall and prevent cataract development.

Cataracts form on the lens of the eye when old cells begin to build up. If not treated and monitored regularly, cataracts can lead to loss of vision and eventual blindness. So, if you’re looking for supplements to prevent cataracts, here is your key player: vitamin C. A recent literature review collected a number of studies that linked increased vitamin C intake and a significant decrease in the risk of developing cataracts.

Unfortunately, there isn’t currently any research that suggests that vitamin C will help dissolve cataracts naturally. However, vitamin C can slow down the progression of cataracts in people who already have cataracts. You can easily increase your vitamin C intake through supplements or by consuming more foods like oranges, spinach, and berries.

4. Home Remedies for Bags Under Eyes

Dark circles under your eyes are more of a cosmetic issue than anything else. But that doesn’t make them any less annoying! Luckily, there are some easy home remedies you can use to freshen up your skin in the morning.

First, though, let’s understand the cause of baggy eyes. If you’ve ever experienced this issue, people will probably tell you that you look tired – and they’re right! Eye bags are usually caused by a lack of sufficient sleep. It’s very important for all your vital functions, including your eyes, to get between seven and eight hours of sleep every night.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of eye bags, of course, the first thing you should try is to get more sleep. If that’s not possible during this stage of life, the Mayo Clinic suggests a variety of remedies:

• Reduce salt intake
• Reduce fluid intake before bedtime
• Sleep with your head slightly elevated
• Reduce allergy symptoms

Luckily, eye bags are not a serious issue to be too worried about. However, if you’re waking up with dark circles under your eyes more often than not, your body is probably trying to tell you to go to bed earlier.

Natural home remedies for your eyes don’t have to be complicated. The next time you experience one of these issues, try a natural solution. It may bring you the relief you need before you head to the eye doctor.