red eyes – causes and treatment

Red lines in the whites of the eyes. This can be caused by dust, pollen allergies, bright sunshine, cigarette smoke, other irritants, overwork, and staying up late at night. People over 40 commonly experience this problem to some extent. But if it is excessive, or if you are younger, you may wish to give it closer attention.

Treatment

• Get more rest at night. Pause and rest a little more during the day.

• Do not use “drops” from the pharmacy. They have an agent in them that constricts the blood vessels. This may make your whites look whiter for awhile, but no problems have been solved. Do not tinker with your precious eyes! When the drops wear off in a couple hours, the redness generally appears redder than before.
• Lay a cool, wet washcloth over your closed eye. The cold constricts the blood vessels naturally, and the moisture helps your eyes.
• Be sure and drink enough water, so you will have an adequate amount of fluid in your tear ducts.
• If the eyes are red when you wake up, the problem may be your eyelids. This is a lowgrade infection of the eyelids. Treat it by washing your eyes with warm water at night before retiring.
• Any problem in the eyes should be taken seriously. Infection can be treated with a small amount of boric acid mixed with sterile water.
• Helpful herbs include eyebright, fennel, and cornflower. Eyebright is remarkably helpful for a number of eye conditions.