At some point in time, most of us will experience eye problems such as redness, pain, itching or tearing of the eyes.
While more serious eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts may require surgical treatment, others can be treated with natural over-the-counter remedies.
Read on to learn more about treating common eye problems the natural way.
Homeopathic Medicines
There are a number of homeopathic medicines that can help with eye irritation. Euphrasia officinalis is a medicinal plant often used as an eyewash to treat eye disorders such as conjunctivitis and prevent eye fatigue and inflammation. Eye drops containing Euphrasia officinalis were also noted in one study to be effective against eye allergy symptoms.
Another homeopathic ingredient, Calendula officinalis, may relieve eye dryness associated with environmental irritants.
Try:
Place 1-2 drops in the affected eye or eyes, repeating up to 6 times per day as needed.
Carotenoids
Protecting our eyes from damage caused by heavy digital device usage is becoming increasingly important.
According to research conducted by The Vision Council, about 80 percent of Americans report using devices more than 2 hours per day; 59 percent of those surveyed reported symptoms of digital eye strain – such as blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes and neck and shoulder pain.
Supplementing with carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin can support eye health. These two nutrients can help preserve your vision by filtering blue light before it has a chance to damage the macula, the part of the eye that is essential for activities like reading and driving.
Technology is a big part of kids’ lives, too. According to a study funded by the National Eye Institute, children’s eyes absorb more blue light than adults, so it’s important to make nutrients that support eye health a part of their diets as well.
For adults, try:
Eye Antioxidant Vegetarian Capsules from Bluebonnet Nutrition
This formula combines amino acids, vitamins, minerals and herbal antioxidants to support eye health, including natural beta carotene, vitamin C, lutein and bilberry.
For kids, try:
Ocuguard Blutein Chewables from Twinlab
These fruit-flavored chewables (formulated with digital device users in mind) contain lutein and zeaxanthin. Follow the dosing recommendations on the product’s label.
Regular eye exams should be considered for both adults and children to support vision health and identify any issues early on.