Eye infections, caused by bacteria or viruses can be treated naturally at home. Learn how to use essential oils for eye infection, blepharitis or eye mites in a safe and effective manner.
What is an Eye Infection?
Eye infections are the most common type of eye disease; they may be contagious and are generally curable. Eye infections are characterized by inflammation of the surface of the eye and eye lid, itchiness, irritation and redness.
Some types of eye infection include pink eye/conjunctivitis and blepharitis.
Eye infections are caused by a variety of factors including:
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections
- Clogging of the oil glands under the eye lashes
- Allergies, such as dust allergy, animal dander and pollen
- Irritants such as eye drops, shampoo getting into the eye
Some of the signs of eye infection include:
- Irritation
- Redness
- Watering eyes or sticky discharge
- Inflammation
- Crusting at the base of the eye lids
- Eye lids sticking together, especially in after sleep
Eye infections may be short term and get resolved in 3 – 7 days such as pink eye, or they may be long term or chronic taking up to 2 – 4 weeks to heal, such as blepharitis. In the case of blepharitis, additional symptoms may include loss of eye lashes, flaking skin on the eye lashes and infection of the follicles at the base of each lash.
Why Use Essential Oils for Eye Infection?
Essential oils, when used correctly, can greatly help to relieve eye infections naturally. Essential oils are particularly useful in the case of blepharitis where long term use of conventional medicines such as antibacterial eye cream may not be feasible.
Research on the Use of Essential Oils for Eye Infection
A recent study carried out in China researched the effect of essential oil treatment on patients suffering from eye infection due to blepharitis or eye lash mite infection (Demodex folliculorum). These eye lash mites exist naturally in everyone’s eyes, but when they rapidly breed and infect the hair follicles at the base of every eye, they can cause irritation, inflammation, itching and more.
In the study, an ointment containing 5% tea tree oil was applied to the eyelashes of the patients. The patients were told to apply the ointment after washing their faces, once a day for 4 weeks.
It was found that there was considerably less itching and fewer mites. It is worth noting that 2 out of the 24 patients experienced irritation from the ointment. (source)
How to Use Essential Oils for Eye Infection
Here are the 3 best ways to use essential oils for eye infection treatment:
1. Tea tree ointment
This tea tree ointment is particularly helpful for infections on the eye lid and eye lashes such as in bletharitis. To make a tea tree ointment similar to the one in the Chinese study above, here’s how to do it:
What you need:
- Double boiler (where to get it)
- 2 oz glass container (where to get it)
- ¼ cup of shea butter (where to get it)
- 1 tablespoon of beeswax pastilles (where to get it)
- 10 drops of tea tree oil (where to get it)
Method:
- In a double boiler, melt both the shea butter and the beeswax pastilles together until fully liquefied.
- Take off heat and add in 10 drops of tea tree oil.
- Now mix thoroughly using a popsicle stick, or glass rod.
- Pour into your glass container (prefer not to use plastic as it can harbor bacteria that can infect the eyes).
- Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to solidify.
- To use, apply this ointment on top of your eye lids while your eyes are closed. Use once daily until the eye infection subsides.
Warning: Do not place essential oils into your eye. If you get essential oil in your eye, it can lead to irritation and damage of the delicate membranes of the eye.
2. Facial Steaming – By far, the safest yet most effective way to heal eye infections with essential oils is by facial steaming. This is my favorite way and it can be a great preventative tool as well.
What you need:
- A large bowl
- Hot water with steam coming out
- A large towel
- 2 drops of tea tree oil (where to get it)
Method:
- First bring about 1 liter of water to a boil and then transfer this water into a large bowl.
- Add in the essential oils.
- Place your head over the steam and allow the steam to reach your face, including your eyes/eye lids.
- You can throw a large towel over your head and the bowl to prevent the steam from escaping.
- The heat melts the essential oils such that small molecules are carried with the steam and can reach your eyes. These essential oils can soothe your eyes and fight infectious bacteria and viruses.
3. Cooling Compress for Eye Infections
It’s easy to make a cooling compress for red, hot and itchy eyes with properly diluted essential oils. Here’s how to do it:
What you need:
- Circular cotton pads (where to get it)
- A bowl
- A clean glass jar for storing the pads (where to get it)
- ½ cup of aloe vera gel (where to get it)
- 4 tablespoons of rose water (where to get it)
- 2 drops of frankincense oil (where to get it)
- 2 drops of helichrysum oil (where to get it)
- 2 drops of lavender oil (where to get it)
Method:
- In a bowl, mix together the aloe vera and rose water until they are thoroughly combined.
- Now drop in the essential oils and mix again.
- Place your cotton pads (about 24 of them) into a glass jar, one on top of the other.
- Now pour in your aloe vera/hydrosol mixture.
- Screw on the lid of the jar and shake to get all the cotton pads soaked with the liquid mixture. You may add a bit more rose water or distilled water and shake again.
- Once or twice a day, wring out and place two circular pads over your closed eye lids for soothing, relaxing relief from the heat, itchiness and inflammation.
Have you successfully used essential oils for eye infections? Share your story in the comments below!