Conjunctivitis Pink Eye Remedies, Cause And Preventions

Symptoms And Home Remedies For Pink Eye

Conjunctivitis, also commonly known as “sore eye” or “pinkeye”, is a common ailment in which the thin transparent membrane called conjunctivus that covers the eyeball gets infected and causes the eyeball and the eyelid to become inflamed, causing the eye(s) to water constantly. This condition can be quite painful and is accompanied by constant itching and irritation in the eye. In this condition, the blood vessels in the eye swell up and discharge a yellowish, sticky fluid. Sometimes, vision becomes blurred too. The infection of the conjunctiva may be caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses. Though conjunctivitis generally affects only one eye, rubbing the eye can very easily transmit the infection to the other eye as well. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can spread very fast from one person to another in crowded, unhygienic surroundings. Prolonged exposure to harsh and artificial light as well as excessive strain on the eyes may also trigger this infection. Sometimes, exposure to allergens is also responsible for conjunctivitis.

Prevention is the best way of treating conjunctivitis. Make sure that you wash your eyes with clean water frequently every day. Use only washed hand and face towels, and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands. Also, include natural sources of vitamin A and B2 in your diet, such as green and leafy vegetables, yogurt, pumpkin, papaya, citrus fruits and almonds, as these prevent conjunctivitis. Reduce your consumption of excessively starchy and sugary foodstuff like wheat-based products, potatoes, jams and jellies, confectionary, sweets, meats, as well as spicy food rich with lots of condiments, as these can irritate the eye and lead to conjunctivitis. You should also adopt an all-fruit diet for a few days after the infection, which includes raw fruits (except bananas) and fresh fruit juices to treat conjunctivitis. After a few days, you may include fruit and vegetable salads too in your diet. There are also a few simple home remedies that you may find useful in treating this condition. Soak a ball of cotton in fresh cow milk for some time and then sprinkle a little powdered potash alum on the cotton ball. Use this to dab the infected eye very gently to get rid of the inflammation and itching sensation in a short time. Another popular remedy is to steep a piece of jiggery in a cup of water overnight. The next morning, strain away the liquid using a think muslin cloth and drink it on an empty stomach.