Eye Conditions

Common eye conditions include black eyes, conjunctivitis, and eye strain. In a black eye, tiny capillaries close to the surface of the skin around the eye leak blood into the surrounding tissue. Symptoms of conjunctivitis, or pink eye, include redness of the eye and sensitivity to light, a "gritty" feeling when blinking, and a watery discharge from the eye. Symptoms of eyestrain include fatigue, headache, and eye soreness.

Heal a black eye with arnica
Arnica fosters the healing process by stimulating the circulation, relieving pain, and easing swelling. Apply arnica gel to the injured area twice a day until the skin has returned to normal. Caution: Keep arnica out of the eyes. Do not apply arnica to cut or broken skin.

Apply ice to ease the pain of a black eye
As soon as possible. apply an ice pack to the injury. Ice provides immediate pain relief, reduces swelling, and arrests bleeding by constricting the
damaged blood vessels. Use a cold gel pack or an ice pack wrapped in a thin cotton towel to prevent burning the skin. Apply the cold pack to the eye for ten minutes, take a fiveminute break, and reapply for ten minutes. Repeat the cycle until the swelling and pain are relieved.

 

Apply compresses to a black eye
After the first day or two, when the swelling begins to go down, apply alternating hot and cold compresses to the affected area to increase circulation and speed healing. Apply a very warm flannel for five minutes, followed by an ice-cold washcloth for one minute. Repeat the cycle three times, twice a day.

 

Soothe conjunctivitis with goldenseal
A lukewarm eyewash prepared from goldenseal can soothe irritation and fight infection.
250m1 (811 oz) boiling water
I teaspoon powdered goldenseal root
Pour the boiling water over the goldenseal root Cover, and steep for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid through a paper coffee filter to remove all the herb particles. Rinse the affected eye with approximately a third of an eyecup (80ml) of the lukewarm solution three times a day. Note that goldenseal may stain clothing and towels, so try not to splash yourself.

Calendula compress for conjunctivitis
A warm compress made with calendula tea can relieve the itching and discomfort of conjunctivitis. Calendula has antiviral and antibacterial properties and encourages healing.
250m1 (88 oz) boiling water
2 tablespoons dried calendula
To prepare the tea, pour the boiling water over the calendula. Steep in a covered container for I5 minutes and strain. Dip a clean, thin cotton washcloth into the liquid and wring it out slightly. Apply the warm calendula compress to the affected eye. Continue to reapply a compress every few minutes for 15 minutes or more at a time (reheat the tea if necessary). Repeat this several times each day.

Preventing eyestrain
Many people spend a great deal of time engaged in focusing on close-up activities, such as reading, computer work or watching television. But to maintain healthy and relaxed vision, your eyes need the practice of focusing on distant objects. If you work on a close-up activity, prevent yourself from developing eyestrain by trying something as simple as looking out of the window for a few minutes every half hour

 

Eye exercises for eyestrain
Several exercises will help you to relieve your eyestrain. Focus on the tip of your nose, and then shift your focus to an object across the room. Repeat this several times. Now slowly roll your eyes in a circle, looking upward as far as you can, to the left, down, and to the right. Repeat in the opposite direction. Close your eyes. gently cup your hands over your eyes to create complete darkness, and relax for a minute. Remember to breathe and relax (see No. 17) while you are doing these exercises.

Compresses for eyestrain
Applying hot then cold compresses to your strained eyes will increase the circulation of blood and promote relaxation. Prepare two bowls of water-one comfortably hot and the other ice cold. Dip a flannel into the bowl of hot wateF, wring it out, and apply it to your closed eyes. After a minute, replace the hot cloth with a cold cloth. Repeat several times, ending with a cold compress.