Natural Solutions for Pink Eye
Pinkeye is simply inflammation of part of the eye, not a specific infection. Pinkeye is the most common reason for emergency room visits for eye conditions. Acute conjunctivitis affects roughly 6 million Americans each year, costing between $377 million and $857 million.
What Are The Symptoms of Pink Eye
Symptoms include eye redness, swelling, irritation, discharge, and burning sensations. Not all cases have all symptoms. Pink eye can be viral, bacterial, or an allergic reaction.
How Do I Catch Pink Eye?
Pinkeye is highly contagious. The virus spreads through direct contact by way of contaminated fingers, medical instruments, swimming pool water, or personal items. Eagerness to return to work or school before the contagious period has ended is a key factor in the spread of the disease. The incubation period for bacterial or viral related pink eye ranges from 12 hours to 3 days. A person becomes contagious after symptoms appear, and remains contagious for 10-14 days afterward.
How Can I Prevent Pink Eye?
In one study, 46% of infected people had positive cultures grown from swabs of their hands. As such, hand washing and avoidance of anyone with symptoms is the most effective way to avoid pink eye.
What Is The Best Way to Treat Pink Eye?
Widespread antibiotic use has not been recommended for many years, however routine practice often still includes the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics for pinkeye. Many US state health departments disregard the underlying cause of conjunctivitis, and require students to be treated with topical antibiotic eyedrops before returning to school. This is in spite of the fact that up to 80% of all cases are caused by a virus. In one study, only 135 out of 10,000 cases were caused by bacteria. Between 65% and 90% of cases of viral conjunctivitis are caused by adenoviruses.
Frequent warm compresses, enhanced with anti-inflammatory botanicals, can help to relieve symptoms. Consumption of immune supporting herbs help the body to fight the virus. In newborns, pinkeye requires a trip to their primary care provider.
Natural Solutions
EYEBRIGHT (EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS)
Evidence is limited, but traditional treatment includes the use of topical applications of eyebright. Commercially prepared eyedrops containing eyebright are suitable, but internal use of the herb is also widely used. A tincture can also be added to a warm compress and placed over the eye.
CALENDULA
Anti-inflammatory herbs such as calendula and chamomile are often used to treat topical conditions and supported by the scientific research for this purpose. A water-based infusion can be used as the liquid for a warm compress and applied as often as needed to reduce irritation and provide relief from inflammation.
IMMUNE SUPPORT
Because most cases of pinkeye are viral, immune-supporting herbs that specifically help with viral infections may be of benefit. Examples include: garlic, astragalus, elderberry, and echinacea.
REFRENCES
Azari, A. & Barney, N. (2013). Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment. JAMA. 310(16): 1721–1729.
Ohnsman CM. Exclusion of students with conjunctivitis from school: policies of state departments of health. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2007;44(2):101–105.
Smith AF, Waycaster C. Estimate of the direct and indirect annual cost of bacterial conjunctivitis in the United States. BMC Ophthalmol. 2009;9:13.
Udeh BL, Schneider JE, Ohsfeldt RL. Cost effectiveness of a point-of-care test for adenoviral conjunctivitis. Am J Med Sci. 2008;336(3):254–264.
Visscher, K., Hutnik, C., & Thomas, M. (2009). Evidence-based treatment of acute infective conjunctivitis. Breaking the cycle of antibiotic prescribing. Canadian Family Physician. 55(11): 1071–1075.