There are countless eye problems that require the immediate attention and treatment of an Arizona eye doctor. However, there are also a good number of eye problems that can be safely treated at home. Here are just a few of the common eye conditions that respond quite well to home treatment, along with useful tips.
Black Eye
An exception to this would be serious injuries associated with a black eye, such as blood in the eye, blurry vision, or if you are unable to move your eye and there is intense pain. The first step would be to reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain during the first day. Just apply an ice pack on the affected eye for about 15 to 20 minutes. Do this once an hour.
An alternative to an ice pack is a bag of frozen vegetables or wrapping ice cubes in a cloth or towel. Whatever you do, do not put raw steak or some other type of raw meat on the affected eye. This is pure myth and not backed up by any scientific evidence. What is worse is that any bacteria that is in the raw meat could lead to an eye infection.
Pink Eye
Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye is usually caused by a virus. This means antibiotics would not work. Viral conjunctivitis will disappear on its own. Have your ophthalmologist diagnose your particular case. You can minimize the discomfort of conjunctivitis by applying cool compresses to the eye. If the conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria, make sure that you follow your treatment plan, which usually involves antibiotic eyedrops. In either case, you should take steps to reduce the chance of passing the problem on to someone else, because conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Don’t share towels, handkerchiefs or cosmetics; change pillowcases frequently; and wash your hands often.
Eye Allergies
Just as you can get nasal allergies, you can get eye allergies that leave your eye red, itchy and teary. Limiting your exposure to the source of your allergy — whether it’s pollen, pets or mold — can help relieve symptoms. If you can’t eliminate the source entirely, there are ways to minimize its effect with eye allergy treatments. For example, if pollen bothers you, don’t use a window fan, which can draw pollen into your house. Wear sunglasses when you go outside. If dust is the problem, use allergen-reducing covers for your bed. You can also use artificial tears, which temporarily wash allergens from your eyes, or over-the-counter anti-allergy eye drops to lessen the symptoms.
Stye
While a stye may look nasty, it’s usually harmless and goes away within a week. You can treat it at home by running a washcloth under warm water, wringing it out and placing it over your closed eye. When the washcloth cools, repeat the process several times. Do this three to four times a day for at least a week. The heat will help unblock the pores in your eyelash area. Don’t wear eye makeup or your contact lenses while you have a stye. And don’t pop or squeeze the stye. Doing so can spread infection to surrounding areas of your eye.
With any of these conditions, you should not wait to see your Arizona eye doctor if the symptoms worsen or if your vision is affected. Moreover, there are some eye problems that you should never try to treat on your own, including:
- Serious eye injuries
- Eye Pain
- Blurriness
- Double vision
If you experience any of these, you should seek medical attention right away. As with any medical problem, the sooner you seek medical help, the better the chances are of a good outcome.
