PINK-EYE AND STIES
PINK-EYE, KNOWN AS CONJUNCTIVITIS among medical professionals,
is an inflammation of the conjunctiva - the clear membrane covering the eyelid
and much of the eye. When you have the condition, the white part of your
eye appears pink or red; one or both eyes water and may burn and itch.
Viruses most commonly cause pink-eye; it often comes with cold symptoms.
If pink-eye accompanies a cold sore, check with your physician to make sure
that the herpes virus hasn't infected your eye.
If the organisms causing pink-eye are bacteria instead of viruses, you'll
probably notice a copious yellow-green discharge and the white part of your
eye will turn an angry red.
Infectious conjunctivitis usually starts out
affecting one eye but may spread to the other - and to the eyes of family
members and close friends. Be sure to wash your hands after touching your
eyes and make sure others don't use your towel or flannel. Better yet, try
not to touch your eyes at all.
Mild bacterial and viral eye infections usually go away in several days without
treatment.
EYEWASHES AND COMPRESSES
To make an eyewash, first sterilise an eyecup by immersing it in boiling water
for 10 minutes (eyecups are usually available at the chemist). In another pan,
boil 1/, litre of water for 10 minutes. Steep 1 teaspoon of the dried herb
or herbs of your choice for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain through a coffee filter.
Pour
this solution - tolerably warm for infections, cool for allergy-reddened
eyes - into a sterilised eyecup and lower your eye to the rim. Look left
and right and blink in the eyecup for a full minute. Sterilise the eyecup
again before treating the other eye. Caution: do not put herbal extracts,
no matter whether they contain alcohol or glycerin, directly into your eyes.
Doing so causes much burning and stinging.
To make a compress, simply steep 1 teaspoon of the dried herb or herbs as
described above. Strain and cool this tea, then use it to moisten a clean,
soft cloth. Apply the cloth to closed eyes for 10 minutes at a time as often
as needed.
TIPS FOR CHASING AWAY STIES
A sty is basically a pimple at the base of an eyelash. Sties occur when an
eyelid oil gland becomes blocked and a bacterial infection develops around
the base of the corresponding hair's follicle or root. Sometimes the infection
spreads to neighbouring follicles. Eventually the lump bursts, relieving
the pain. In a day or two, the sty usually heals and disappears.
Sometimes
sties result when our eyes simply become irritated by environmental pollen,
pollutants or chemicals. They can also occur in conjunction
with allergies such as hay fever.
Sties are not dangerous and almost always go away on their own. You can hasten
the process by applying warm compresses - either plain or made with an eyewash
tea - for 10 to 15 minutes four times per day. Or you can alternate hot and
cold compresses. Apply heat for four minutes, followed by two minutes of
cold. Repeat twice, then end with heat.
Don't try to `pop' a sty by squeezing
it; this could damage tender eye tissue. Be patient. The sty will burst on
its own. Once it does, rinse the eye thoroughly with warm water or with a
warm salt-water solution made by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1/4 litre
of water that's been boiled for 10 minutes. If your entire eyelid becomes
swollen - especially if you also have a fever and generally feel poorly -call
your doctor.
DRUG TREATMENT
Antibacterial Eyedrops and Ointments
Ofloxacin (Exocin), polymyxin B sulphate (Polyfax, Polytrim). Function: kill
bacteria. Side effects: temporary blurred vision after using ointments, initial
burning or stinging.
Antiviral Eye Ointment
Aciclovir (Zovirax). Function: kills the herpes simplex virus when it is
a cause of pink-eye. Side effects: stinging or burning in the eyes.
Anti-Allergy Eyedrops
Levocabastine (Livostin), lodoxamide (Alomide). Function: interfere with
the release of histamine, the body chemical responsible for the itchiness
of pink-eye. Side effects: brief and mild burning or stinging upon first
instilling the drops.
HERBAL REMEDIES
To use any of the following herbs (with the exception of black tea), see 'Eyewashes and Compresses' above.
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinails)
Eyebright helps any kind of eye irritation, including infectious pinkeye
and allergic conjunctivitis. It is astringent, soothing and antibacterial.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
This herb is astringent, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it a
good choice for irritated or infected eyes. Caution: if you are allergic
to other members of the daisy family, you may also be allergic to yarrow.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
The flowers of this common weed are antiviral, healing and soothing. They
make a good addition to a herbal eyewash blend.
Tea (Camellia sinensis)
It's easy, it's handy and it's an almost universally available remedy for
pinkeye. Like black tea, green tea contains bioflavonoids that can help
reduce inflammation and fight viral and bacterial infection, but it has fewer
tannins, the astringent chemicals that help shrink swollen tissue. Whichever
kind you use, just moisten a tea bag with warm water and apply to closed
eyes for several minutes. You can do the same for a sty. This will improvecirculation
to the area and can also prevent possible spread of the infection. (If your
eye is red or swollen, moisten the tea bag with cool, rather than warm, water.)
Berberine-Containing
Herbs
Berberine fights a broad range of microbes; you can find it in goldenseal
(Hydrastis canadensis), Oregon graperoot (Berberis aquifolium), barberry
(Berberis vulgaris) and gold thread (Coptis species). Berberine can kill
staph and strep bacteria, each of which commonly causes bacterial pink-eye.
In fact, some commercial eyedrops contain berberine as the active ingredient.
These are all excellent herbs to look for in commercial formulas or to use
in herbal eyewashes.
