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With the children home for the summer holidays everyone wants a hassle free and enjoyable time, but it is inevitable that accidents and injuries happen. Here are some pointers regarding eye health as to what you may encounter and whether it is treatable via home remedies.
A black eye is common place and is more than just a term. A black eye classed as not serious means there are no accompanying symptoms of blood in the eye, blurred vision or being unable to move the eye around. An ice pack or cold compress will help to reduce swelling immediately after the accident. Try and keep the compress on the affected area for at least twenty minutes. If you don't have an ice pack then raid the fridge freezer for a bag of frozen vegetables or ice cubes wrapped in a flannel. Never use raw meat as this poses a high risk for infection.
Hayfever is rife at this time of year and just as you can suffer from nose allergies you can suffer from eye allergies that traditionally leave you with teary red and irritated eyes. Try and limit your exposure to the source if irritation, eg: remove pets from certain rooms, don't use window fans if you are affected by pollen and wear protective eye wear when out in the sun. Eye drops are good for washing out the eyes which cleanse and lessen the irritation of the symptoms. Over the counter medications are very effective.
A stye is a common issue and can look worse than the discomfort they actually give. A stye shouldn't hang around for longer than a week. Never try to squeeze the stye as you will be at risk of infection, but you can use a flannel soaked in warm water to press over the affected eye three or four times a day. Ensure the water is warm and replace with a fresh warm flannel once the water has cooled off. The warmth of the water aims to unblock pores around the lash area. Try to avoid waring eye makeup or lenses while you have a stye.
Pink eye (Conjunctivitis) usually requires treatment if it has been caused by bacteria. It will normally be solved with antibacterial eye drops. Mose cases though are just viral and won't respond to antibiotics and generally clears up of its own accord. You may need to see an optician to determine the type of conjunctivitis you have. The conditions is very contagious so you should be aware to not share wash cloths or towels , change your bedding frequently and throw away cosmetics once the condition has cleared up to prevent further infections later.
If the vision is seriously affected or the conditions named above significantly get worse you should of course seek a medical diagnosis. Always contact your optician if any of the following occur;
Blurred vision
Eye pain
Double vision
Any serious eye injury