5 Natural Remedies For Pink Eye

Heather Dessinger

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Natural Remedies For Pink Eye

There are three reasons to love pink eye:

1. It’s a nice break from giving the stink eye. Gotta mix things up, you know?

2. You can use it to repel awkward interactions – “Don’t come near, I’m CONTAGIOUS!”

3. Sorry, that’s all I’ve got. Who actually loves pink eye???

Fortunately, there are several natural remedies for pink eye out there that mamas swear by. Today I’m going to share them with you, along with studies I’ve found related to each remedy. But first, let’s ask one very important question . . .

What Causes Pink Eye? ^

Like ear infections, most cases of pinkeye are viral in nature. However, some are bacterial and others are actually an allergic response.

Viral Pink Eye Is…

  • Typically marked by clear, watery drainage
  • Contagious
  • Likely to start in one eye and move to the other
  • Not treatable with antibiotics. “Most viral pinkeye cases have no specific treatment – you just have to let the virus run its course, which is usually four to seven days” (1)
  • Often somewhat alleviated by some of the comfort measures listed below. Immune system support may also be helpful.
  • Often difficult to discern from bacterial pink eye (2)(3)

Bacterial Pink Eye Is . . .

  • Typically marked by greenish yellow drainage
  • Contagious
  • Likely to start in one eye and move to the other
  • Usually treated with antibiotic eye drops. Some who prefer to avoid antibiotics use some of the natural approaches below.
  • Often difficult to discern from viral pink eye (2)(3)

Allergic Pink Eye is . . .

  • “Allergic pinkeye (caused by seasonal pollens, animal dander, cosmetics, and perfumes) and chemical pinkeye (from chemicals or liquids, including bleach and furniture polish) are not contagious.” (1)
  • Clear, watery drainage is typical
  • Usually involves both eyes

“Allergic pinkeye symptoms should improve once the allergen source is removed and the allergy is treated. Chemical pinkeye requires prompt washing of the affected eye(s) for five minutes and an immediate call to the doctor.” (1) Treatments for the allergy may include an antihistamine. Nettle capsules or tea are considered by many to be a natural antihistamine, and preliminary studies suggest that this may indeed be the case. (4)

Of course, these descriptions are general in nature and may not apply in all situations. We’ll get to some natural remedies for pinkeye in just a sec, but first please keep in mind that “Best Boo-Boo Kisser South Of Puckett’s Gas Station” is about as official as things get for me professionally. I am not a doctor, this is not medical advice, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, and your medical decisions are completely up to you. If you need some convincing on this, read my full disclaimer where I say it over and over again. Okay, moving on!

Natural Home Remedies for Pink Eye - Inflamed, crusty eyes? Here are 5 home remedies moms swear by. Plus the difference between viral, bacterial, and allergic pinkeye.

Natural Remedies For Pink Eye ^

Because pink eye can be highly contagious, it is usually recommended that individuals address both eyes even if only one has irritation.

Honey

Frank Dougan of Glasgow spent eight years searching for relief from blepharitis, a chronic bacterial infection of the eyelid. ‘Lots of doctors gave me eyes [sic] drops, I have a whole fridge full and I have spent a fortune but nothing worked,’ he told the UK-based Daily Mail. (5)

So what did finally work? According to Frank, it was a jar of honey from the local Tesco. His optician confirmed that she was no longer able to find any traces of blepharitis.

Countless studies have affirmed honey’s beneficial properties. In fact, according to a Cochrane analysis of 19 clinical trials, this pantry staple may work better than antibiotic creams for burns. (6) Here’s how I use it in my first aid kit.

So what do we know about its effectiveness with pink eye? I am not aware of any studies that have directly looked at this issue, however, there are a few studies that have explored the use of honey for various eye irritations. Here’s what they concluded:

Studies that may support the use of honey for some kinds of eye irritation

In one study, the application of honey significantly reduced the number of bacteria found on and around the eye in patients that suffer from dry eyes. (7)

Another analysis notes that honey is being ” ‘rediscovered’ by the medical profession, particularly where conventional modern therapeutic agents have failed. Recently published reports describe the effectiveness of honey in rapidly clearing wound infection with minimal adverse effects, and also possible in promoting healing with minimal scar formation. Honey also has antimicrobial action against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi, both in laboratory studies and in humans. Its use in the eye ranges from treating post-herpetic corneal opacities, local conjunctival lesions and corneal edema with variable results.” (8, emphasis mine)

Also, though it is not a study, “there is evidence that the ancient Egyptians used honey to treat eye diseases, the Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with being among the first to record medicinal use of honey for the eyes as far back as 350 B.C. Honey was also widely used in India to treat eye disease and has been used by traditional healers in Mali to prevent scarring of the cornea in cases of measles. There is also evidence that honey was used by the medieval English to treat eye diseases.” (9) (10)

What kind of honey is best?

The exact type of honey used in the studies mentioned above was not specified. However, in the world of natural remedies I know manuka honey is often sought because it contains high levels of the compound dihydroxyacetone. However, I didn’t have any on hand when I woke up with pink, irritated eyes last year so I used this instead.

How I use it:

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 teaspoon raw honey
  • 1/4 cup distilled or reverse osmosis water (or water that has been boiled for 5 minutes and allowed to cool)
  • pinch of sea salt (optional – this is what I use)

Instructions:

Dissolve raw honey and optional salt in pure warm water. Don’t get the water too hot or it may alter some of the beneficial properties of the honey. Using a clean dropper, place a 1-2 drops in each eye every few hours as needed.

Breast Milk

According to one article, a “particular antibody in the breast milk, called immunoglobulin A, prevents the pink eye bacteria from attaching to the mucosal surface of the eye. This limits the growth of the bacteria, helping to end the eye infection.” (11)

So what does the clinical data say? Although there are no studies that address pink eye directly, this article examines three studies that look at the impact of colostrum on newborn eye infections. The antimicrobial properties of colostrum and breast milk are well-documented and there does seem to be some evidence of benefit for use with eye infections, but at least one of the studies where the evidence seems overwhelmingly positive was not well constructed.

On the other hand, moms swear by it.

Bonus awesome breast milk fact: A few years ago researchers noticed that cancerous lung cells in a test tube died on contact with breast milk, so they isolated the key compound responsible and began injecting it into tumors. So far, trials with rats have shown that “after just seven weeks a highly invasive brain cancer called glioblastoma was seven times smaller in those treated with HAMLET [the nickname for the breast milk compound].” (12)

How to use it

Using a clean spoon, place a few drops onto the surface of the eye. “Lift your eyelid slightly to help the breast milk circulate underneath. Continue this treatment three times a day for a couple of days, or until the eye infection has cleared. If your symptoms persist or worsen, though, seek medical advice.” (13)

Colloidal Silver

Natural Remedies For Pink Eye: Colloidal SIlver

The use of silver solutions for eye infections is nothing new. Until the creation of erythromycin, an antibiotic ointment, silver nitrate drops were routinely used in newborn’s eyes to prevent certain types of bacterial infection. In some hospitals, they are still used, but most doctors prefer the ointment because silver nitrate can cause irritation. (Please note that in mentioning its routine use in newborns is not an endorsement. I recommend that you research before consenting to it or any other newborn procedure.)

Silver nitrate is created by combining silver with nitric acid, while colloidal silver contains only silver particles suspended in water. It is my understanding that colloidal silver is generally considered less irritating.

What have doctors said about it? Not much it seems, however, I did find a few comments from M.D.’s who said simply that their patients swear by it and that it might be worth trying. (13) (14)

According to Ray Sahelian, M.D., “I have come across several people who swear that colloidal silver — when used as eye drops 1-2 drops 3 to 4 times a day– quickly healed their conjunctivitis or sty, or reduced the severity of pharyngitis when gargled in water. Perhaps colloidal silver is effective against viruses and some bacteria. So, considering all factors, if I were to make a decision, I would say colloidal silver is worth a try for a few days in cases of conjunctivitis or sty or perhaps other mild infections, but it should not be used for longer than one week at a time. Its use should be done under medical supervision by a health care provider who is familiar with its properties. I, personally, have not used it with patients.”

Wondering if colloidal silver is safe? I like Emily Bartlett, LAc’s take on it.

How to use it

As referenced by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D. in the quote above, those who rave about this remedy typically say they use 1-2 drops of 5-10 ppm (that’s the concentration) colloidal silver in each eye three to four times per day.

Natural Remedies For Pink Eye - Tea

Herbal Tea Poultices

According to Prescription For Nutritional Healing, “Calendula, chamomile, fennel and/or eyebright teas can be used to make hot compresses. Eyebright can also be taken orally in capsule or tea form. It is good for any eye irritation or inflammation. The tea can also be used to rinse the eyes.”

Caution: Do not use chamomile or calendula if you are allergic to ragweed. Some sources, such as Prescription For Nutritional Healing, say not to use during pregnancy or nursing. (p. 421) However, many herbalists and OB-GYN’s say chamomile is perfectly fine during pregnancy and while nursing. (15)

Some individuals add a pinch of salt to their tea as it brews to boost the astringent quality of the poultice.

How to use it

According to some sources, distilled water is recommended because any impurities in water could exacerbate the infection. You can find instructions for making chamomile and calendula eye soothers at Mother Earth News.

In Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide For Treating Health Problems With Natural Remedies, which was also written James F. Balch, M.D., along with Mark Stengler N.M.D, and Robin Young Balch, N.M.D, eyebright is mentioned again with a little more clarification. It is recommended for both pink eye and irritation due to allergies. In the section on allergies, it is suggested that readers “apply as a solution to irritated eyes by adding 3-5 drops of eyebright tincture to an ounce of contact lens (saline) solution in a disposable cup. Rinse each eye with separate cups and toss the cups after use. Do this once or twice a day to relieve irritated eyes and remove redness.”

Natural Remedies For Pink Eye - Saline Wash

Salt Water Wash

According to Chris A Knobbe, M.D., irrigating the eye’s surface with a sterile salt water (saline) solution several times daily may give additional relief. (16)

Some eye drops contain lubricants and other medications for various conditions, but there are options out there that just contain salt and sterilized water.

Wondering if it’s possible to make your own saline solution? Just like with the teas, using water that has not been boiled or sterilized in some way is not recommended. However, according to Chemistry expert Anne Marie Helmenstine, PhD, it is possible to make – she explains how here.

Comfort Measures ^

Warm Or Cold Compress

“To reduce pain and to remove the discharge of bacterial or viral pinkeye, use a cold or warm compress on the eyes. Make sure to use a different washcloth for each eye to prevent spreading any infection. And use clean washcloths each time. Clean the eye from drainage by wiping from the inside to the outside of the eye area.” (17)

Raw Potatoes

Fresh slices of cold, raw potato are also said to be soothing.

Pink Eye Prevention ^

Recurring pink eye infections may be associated with vitamins A and B (especially B2) deficiencies, so it may be worth exploring supplementation if infections continue to occur. (18) (19)

Cod liver oil is a source of naturally occurring vitamin A. You can find the brand I buy on my shopping page under Superfoods & Supplements.

When To See A Doctor ^

According to the CDC, “Most cases of pink eye are mild and get better without treatment. However, some forms are more severe. Severe cases need to be looked at by a health care provider and may require specific treatment and close follow-up. If you have pink eye, you should see your health care provider if you have—

  • Moderate to severe pain in your eye(s)
  • Blurred vision or increased sensitivity to light
  • Intense redness in the eye(s)
  • A weakened immune system, for example, from HIV or cancer treatment
  • Bacterial pink eye that does not improve after 24 hours of antibiotic use
  • Symptoms that get worse or don’t improve
  • Pre-existing eye conditions that may put you at risk for complications or severe infection”

The CDC also recommends that all babies with pink eye symptoms be seen by a health care provider (exact wording: “immediately”).

Looking for More Remedies? ^

You may find these helpful:

Do you have a favorite natural remedy for pink eye? Please share it below!

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Sheila Kilbane, MD, a board-certified pediatrician, trained in integrative medicine. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and I don’t play one here on this site. These remedies are shared for educational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose or cure any disease. None of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. See my full disclaimer here.

Sources for this post:

  1. Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis): Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments
  2. The Mayo Clinic: Pinkeye Basics
  3. All About Vision: Conjunctivitis
  4. Penn State Medical Center
  5. Daily Mail: Man Cures Painful Eye Infection With Jar of Honey
  6. UK National Health Service
  7. Effect of antibacterial honey on the ocular flora in tear deficiency and meibomian gland disease
  8. Traditional Medicine in Oman: Its Role in Ophthalmology
  9. Is Pinkeye Contagious? Manuka Honey
  10. The antibacterial activity of honey and its role in treating diseases
  11. The Healing Power Of Breastmilk
  12. Daily Mail: Is breast milk the new wonder cure?
  13.  
  14. Ray Sahelian, M.D.: Colloidal Silver
  15. The Survival Doctor: Pinkeye Remedies
  16. Christopher Hobbs, LaC., Mary Lake Polan, M.D. 
  17. Chris A Knobb, M.D. 
  18. Web MD
  19. Vitamin A and carotene concentration in serum in persons with chronic conjunctivitis and pterygium
  20. Conjunctivitis and Riboflavin Deficiency

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

158 thoughts on “5 Natural Remedies For Pink Eye”

    • I am certain that the ingredients, immunoglobulin A, in the breast milk would still be there when it is frozen and thawed. Pump breast milk and save some for a need such as this! 😉

      Reply
    • I’ll let you know about the frozen breast milk. Mine has been frozen for 3 years and I’m about to pull it out and give it a try 😀

      Reply
    • I just thawed some breast milk for my son and it did WONDERS!! I was going to donate all of my milk since he doesn’t drink it anymore but i sure am going to be holding on to some just in case!

      Reply
    • I did the same with my first child and it cleared the same day. She is now two with pink eye and I am no longer nursing ( due baby 2 soon though 🙂 ) so I am using the drops..they don’t really clear the infection, just shorten the duration by a day or so. I will definitely be pumping and storing breast milk for these type of uses in the future. Breast milk Its also excellent for toddler skin irritation just add it to the bath.

      Reply
  1. This article is great, and so many options! I will give one suggesstion from personal experience: breast milk is a lot easier to apply to the eye with a spoon than trying to squirt it!

    Reply
  2. I hadn’t heard about using honey or silver. Every now and then my kids will get pinkeye, and lately I’ve used breastmilk or even raw cow’s milk to successfully treat it. We’ve never had it fail us yet! It soothes the eyes, too. Last week, my 4-yr-old got it in one eye, and I immediately dabbed breast milk on it. Within 3 hours her eye was totally fine, and the other eye never got it! I love how easy it is to cure, when I used to think we had to have days of antibiotics.

    Reply
  3. I used breast milk for my son’s pink eye and it worked wonderfully. So, when my mom got pink eye and I happened to still be breastfeeding my youngest I offered her some. She thought I was nuts, but tried it and it worked for her, too. Of course, she tells everyone she knows and I get strange looks. I had not heard about using honey in eyes, but have heard of it for cuts and things. I had a bad reaction to colloidal silver (a friend offered me some after I fell asleep on a beach and burned my skin to a crisp), but I generally don’t do well with metals.

    Reply
  4. I had pink eye in December, and though I wasn’t positive if it was viral or bacterial, I decided to try ionic silver (which a friend makes) after a few days since we were going to be traveling. I put a few drops in each eye every few hours and also used wet black tea bags on my eyes and rinsed with very diluted raw apple cider vinegar. It went away, thankfully! It’s good to have some more ideas as well.

    Reply
  5. I am just getting over viral pink eye(s) (the last phase of a 3 week cold for me). I used a combination of chamomile tea bags (after they steeped my tea) and Lavendar essential oil. I did the tea at night, but during the day I applied the Lavendar every few hours. Simply drop a bit of oil on your finger and trace a pair of “glasses” around both eyes, on the brow bone, down the nose bone, and across the cheek bone. Don’t put the oil in the eyes! Even around the far outside of the eye, you may feel a bit of stinging and your eye may water a little for the first 10-15 minutes after you apply it to the skin. Cleared up super fast!

    Reply
  6. breastmilk is best… but when that runs out, colloidal silver helped up out! Got over in 2 days… faster than our cousins from whom my LO got it from (they were on dr’s meds).

    Reply
  7. I never had pink eye in my life and missed the initial signs that first day when my kids developed it. My the next day, they looked like vampires and could barely open their eyes. I started putting breastmilk into their eyes immediately and by the next morning, no more signs of pink eye! My husband dropped it into my eyes just as a precaution but I never seemed to develop it. Breastmilk rocks!

    Reply
  8. Thank you for this! Why do you say not to drink chamomile tea while nursing? I have read that it is safe to drink, so I’m curious…

    Reply
    • Hi Michelle! That’s actually a quote from the book Nutritional Healing. I believe the thinking is that chamomile has such strong anti-inflammatory properties that it can act similarly to aspirin in the body. However, many herbalists and OB-GYN’s say it is perfectly fine to use. I have updated the post to reflect both perspectives.

      Reply
      • Thank you so much! I must say, we got your cookbook when I had just had my 2nd son, and the liver chili is what I believe raised his iron levels to perfection, which were extremely low. But, my boys LOVE the flavor of the liver chili. It is really satisfying and delicious, and I don’t feel over-burdened by the liver flavor at all.

        Can I ask a question about the cod liver oil? We use the fermented cod liver oil at our house – Blue ICe – but I can never find the appropriate dosage information for children and adults. Is there somewhere to get an accurate idea of how much they should get each day? My pediatrician was less than helpful with this and I would like to print out the information so I am giving the proper dosage. I’ve been hesitant to do use it.

        Reply
      • I drink chamomile tea during pregnancy and I’m breastfeeding everything is good nothing has happen to my baby or me!!

        Reply
      • I had no issues with chamomile tea while pregnant or nursing. In fact, I gave a weak version to my babies, in a bottle (not too much) to sip on if they were upset, per my midwife and my naturopath.

        Reply
  9. I spent the last year+ battling blepharitis. Countless trips to the best ophthalmologists in my state and many prescriptions later, I still had it…even worse than when it started. One day it flared up so bad that my eye was nearly swollen shut and was the most painful it had ever been. I broke down and asked for an antibiotic drop from my regular physician, but a miscommunication with her staff left me with no prescription. I don’t know why I thought to use my homemade raw apple cider vinegar, but I put some on a Q-tip and painted my eyelid and lashes with it several times that day. This is what finally worked!! I also use a homeopathic eye drop called Similasan for dry eyes. I will continue to use the ACV every morning and every night before bed to keep blepharitis at bay.

    Reply
  10. Hey Heather!
    Thanks for this post! I’ve been loving your natural remedy posts lately. I was wondering if you’d do one on treating yeast infections naturally? So much information out there and it’s hard to sift through.

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • I have taken a natural probiotic supplement from a local store. It comes in a capsule form. But even eating a natural yogurt or consuming a liquid form of a probiotic (the company Danone makes these little daily drinkable bottles) may be of help as well

      Reply
      • You can also take 3 tsp of Apple cider vinegar in 4 oz of warm water at the first sign of a yeast infection plus two shots of tomato or veggie juice. Itching will clear in 20 minutes and other symptoms. I did this every 4 hours for a whole day. Yeast infection was gone by the end of it 🙂

        Reply
    • I have used coconut oil very successfully with yeast infections. At the first sign of symptoms I take some and apply inside and outside. I apply every couple hours and then as needed until clear.

      Reply
    • I’ve used raw garlic successfully for yeast infections. Take a clove, peel the skin, insert over night and remove in the morning. You may experience a slight garlic taste in your mouth, but it works! I had reoccurring yeast infections when pregnant with my son. Prescription from my OBGYN did not clear it up, but the garlic worked every time. It usually takes about 2-3 nights. I used organic garlic. I was also careful to reduce the sugar/gluten in my diet when dealing with them.

      Reply
      • My friend’s son is autistic and has pink eye he doesn’t like to be touched sometime and or talk at all so what would be the best for him to relieve his pain easier

        Reply
    • I use Probiotic 8 and believe it or not a solution of olive oil and Tea Tree oil on a panty shield. Works wonders. You don’t use much but keeps the itch down.

      Reply
  11. Hi there, thrilled to see this article! And I just have to say that you are an inspiration. I love your site and have used mulitple recipes that you have posted from soap to homemade peanut butter cups. Ok, so to the eye thing. I’m a huge proponent of local honey, so I was thrilled to see this and I am also really loving the Sovereign Silver. A friend introduced me to the Silver a few months back and I’ve used multiple times over the winter including for my dry winter eyes. A few years ago I attempted contacts and from then on I have had some severe eye issues. Needless to say I no longer attempt to wear them. Anywho, I have had some killer infections and it’s just scary when you wake up with pain in your eye and you can’t see. So, now that I’ve discovered the silver and used it a bit over the winter when I felt like something was coming on, I feel so relieved that I can ward off any attempts at infection for the future. But I will also be utilizing the honey. We keep about 1/2 gallon on had at all times and use for all sorts of stuff. Thank you Heather! YOU ROCK!

    Reply
  12. Excellent timing!My little boy is having a terrible time with his eyes..it seems as he has blocked tear ducts.Since week 1 hes had watery,seeping, crusty eyes.Now he has conjunctivitus!Its been 3 weekd and we’ve tried breast milk,chamomile tea bags,saline washes,antibiotics:(.Nothing has worked.He’s 10 months old and we are facing an operation to open the ducts at 1 year if no improvement but a naturopath had told us its not a good option.Anyone been through this with their baby?Hes so fed up of me cleaning his.eyes..Im sure he’s traumatised:(

    Reply
    • Hi Esties,

      I am so, so sorry for your troubles! Unfortunately, I am only too familiar with what you are going through! Our firstborn developed a blocked tear duct just before his first birthday. Well, really, it must have been blocked that whole first year but was never a problem and never even noticed by us or his pediatrician. It got very bad after the first birthday and we had the duct probed, which was unsuccessful. A second surgery with an occuloplastic surgeon was also unsuccessful and he finally needed a complete tear duct reconstruction at Boston Children’s Hospital, with one of the country’s few pediatric occuloplastic surgeons. That being said – my son had a congenital problem (strange because neither his father or I ever had this problem as babies!) and it is extremely rare that this will happen. Usually, from what I have been told, the probing is enough. We did practice comfort measures on and off for the 10 months during his surgeries. Eyebright compresses helped with the irritation from drainage. We tried antibiotics but really they did nothing because they cannot unblock a tear duct. I would recommend that you go to a good children’s hospital, if you are near one, to seek a professional opinion if the duct remains blocked after the first year. Apparently, most blocked tear ducts resolve on their own by the first birthday, so you don’t even have to worry about it yet. Try the eyebright compress. It is very helpful.

      Reply
      • Also, I will say that my son is now almost 5 and his eyes are beautiful, clear and perfect after his surgery, and he doesn’t remember the ordeal at all!

        Reply
    • My second had the same problem. I felt like I had to warn everyone we saw that he wasn’t sick, that it was just a phase.
      His naturally cleared up around 1 1/2 years. We just constantly cleaned them and I would use breast milk every night while he was still nursing. One morning he woke up with clear eyes and we have not had any problems since. It may just take a little longer depending on the child.

      Reply
    • Goldenseal also helps unblock tear ducts. My nieces little boy was about to have surgery on his tear ducts and I told her that she should use Goldenseal. His eye cleared after using Goldenseal. She was one happy mother.

      Reply
    • I had a similar situation, and I was told to massage (press down on the the tear ducts on the corner of the eyes, and move your finger in a circular motion) on a regular basis to help open them up. It’s worked for us! Good luck!

      Reply
    • My daughter had to have a tear duct opened when she was a year old, and it worked wonders. Unfortunately now she is a teenager, and wears contacts, and keeps having recurring pink eye. I’m tired of the antibiotic drops, and have loved reading these natural remedies. I’m on the way to buy some Sovereign Silver now!!

      Reply
  13. Thank you so much Michelle for your answer!That sounds like quite an ordeal that you all went through but it’s good to know that your son is doing so well now:D
    We were ok with thought of the operation because its been 10 months with little to no improvement.However as I mentioned in my previous comment the naturopath said that the operation causes problems later on such as when swimming,biking,etc excrssive tear

    Reply
    • opps:P
      excessive tearing(but thats what we are experiencing now!)
      I will deffinately be starting him on FCLO/BO asap!Great recommendation Heather!Iv finally found a great source
      that is affordable for us here in Spain.Iv been wanting to get this for months.Can’t wait!:)
      (Oh the things we get excited over these days!new cloth diapers,FCLO haha!)

      Reply
  14. I used breastmilk successfully for all my babies’ and kids’ pink eye episodes. Now it’s been 11 yrs since I weaned “the baby”…. so, I’ve used eye bright herbal poultices for eye infections and irritations and it’s worked really well.

    Reply
  15. Are these remedies supposed to work for the viral kind? Our family has been battling a cold with pink eye and we’ve religiously been doing breast milk for a couple weeks with no obvious improvement. My baby suddenly got it bad and we’ve tried colloidal silver for a day and still no improvement. Was considering taking her to a dr and getting some eyedrops but I guess if it’s viral it won’t help… starting up some essential oils, hopefully it will clear up soon.

    Reply
  16. Hi Heather, Happy to find your wonderful site and to find this article! I’m about to rub that lovely lavender oil around my eyes, so glad we have it on hand. It’s THE best remedy for itchy bites or eczema too! If you have the chance, I’d be honored if you checked out my blog at eatbeautiful.net. My first cookbook is due out in January, focussing on grain-free, sugar-free baking and treats, all with a focus on gut-healing, inspired by the GAPS diet and Weston A. Price. Thanks again for your contributions! I’ll look forward to using your site as a great reference in the future too! Cheers! BTW, I’ll comment again how fast the pink eye goes away with the use of lavender oil. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Okay, a quick update for anyone who might benefit. I used the lavender oil on my face, around my eyes in the shape of glasses, like an above reader commented/suggested, down my nose and on my cheekbones. The discomfort from pink eye improved 25% immediately. Redness was 75% improved by the end of the day, reapplying every two hours throughout the day. This was a really fun and encouraging experiment/remedy. Now, day 2.5, I wish that I’d also tried the honey drops in my eyes. I think the combination, assuming the honey is effective, would have been perfect. I was going for easy, honestly. My eyes look normal now, my vision is mostly-perfectly restored; there’s just a little discomfort left. All in all the lavender essential oil was great! And if there’s ever a next time, I’ll try the combination of the internal honey-water solution and the external lavender oil. Thanks, Heather, for the great insights, really empowering and fun.

    Reply
  18. I just wanted to say that I recently got pink eye in both eyes, though much worse in the left. I always have active Manuka honey (16+) on hand, so I mixed 1/4 cup distilled water with 1/4 tsp honey (perhaps a littttleee extra). It cleared my eyes up immediately. I kept using it, every 3 hours for 3 days, and my eyes stayed clear.

    This is faster than both the Sulfa drops and the Erythromycin “gel” ever have worked.

    Thanks for the tips here!!

    Reply
    • We’ve been using this for 36 hours with no change, except his eyes aren’t crusty. Boo, I need this to work! We are even applying it hourly.

      Reply
    • Did the honey remedy sting or hurt your eye when you put it in? I’m at a hotel and my daughter woke with both eyes red and gunky. I’m pretty sure from the hotel pool so bacterial. I’m hoping to get to a health store to get honey and distilled water but I know she will fight me on the drops.

      Reply
  19. I just wanted to add a remedy that I tried many years ago. It worked like a bomb. I admit that it is not the most comfortable remedy but my pink eye was gone in 3 days. It was suggested to me by my gp who always tries to give natural cures as well as medications. Ice blocks / cubes on the eyes for as long as you can stand it and as often as possible. I put mine in a plastic bag that I knotted at the top and wrapped it in a dishcloth. He explained that the ice blocks killed the “germs” as they only thrive in warm conditions. I might try the honey and lavender combination just to see how it works though.

    Reply
  20. Just wanted to add, it was about 15 years ago and I was very young so can’t remember clearly but I think it was the viral kind as I don’t remember any yellow drainage coming out of my eyes.

    Reply
  21. Thanks for this! So far, breastmilk has been very effective when our two little ones have icky eyes. How cool is that!? I’m wondering if you could share more information on colloidal silver and it’s uses specifically related to babies/children…

    Reply
    • I have used colloidal Silver in my kids ears for ear infections. Works wonderfully if you catch it in time (right when they start rubbing them, or complaining about them). Also can be used in a nebulizer for a bad cough, and can be mixed with water and sprayed on diaper rash!! Just a side note, colloidal silver is supposed to be stored in a dark glass bottle, or the silver will “tarnish” because of light exposure. How true this is, I don’t know.

      Reply
  22. Excellent well researched, well-written informative post. I woke up in the middle of night and realized I had pink eye and a busy day today. Instinct said colloidal silver and so I sprayed some in and that relieved the symptoms a bit. I would never have thought of honey, though, so thanks for that tip. Using that as well and it’s very comforting. When my daughter was nursing breast milk was used as a cure all, too. Again thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  23. Raw honey always works for us. I tried breastmilk a couple times when my son was still a baby but to no avail. I have successfully used straight raw honey on myself, my husband, my 4 year old son and his 5 year old friend. It burns like the dickens but there is simultaneously an almost cooling sensation when it first touches the eye (odd i know but its the only way to explain it). Only 1 application on each of us worked but I did a 2nd application on my son and his friend just in case. My son’s friend’s mom (who is from Germany) was baffled by the success and has continued to use it successfully on herself and her 4 year old daughter as well. It’s definitely not fun since it has a burning sensation and it makes you feel like a baby while you fight not rinsing it out of your eye but it works. I just bribed the kiddos with brownies and they hated doing it but the brownies got them to try it at least. Thank god it worked after the first application 🙂

    Reply
  24. Thanks for all the comments. This is my first time having pink eye and I was terrified.Now I will know what to do next time it occurs.

    Reply
  25. What should I do I’m taking medicine but it still hurts on my left eye it feels like spikes or something so I usually cover. And my right is getting better

    Reply
  26. Hello. I have a son who seems to be having conjunctivitis since yesterday. I put some regular saline drops in his eyes (not Visine- no God no!) yesterday, and gave him some Benadryl liquid (he has severe peanut/tree nut allergy so we just wanted to make sure because it happened at school where other kids are allowed to eat those products). I also washed his eye and cleaned it with chamomile compresses last night and this morning. I will try the honey concoction. How do you store it? Room temp? Refrigerate? I will also buy some lavender oil. I do have Melaleuka Tea Tree Oil at home – can I use that by itself or do I need to have the Lavender Oil? Please let me know. I am desperate to clear the little guy’s eye. Have a lovely day.

    Reply
    • I have used lemon and melaleuca essential oil with quick success for pink eye. On my small children, I put it on the soles of their feet because i don’t want to risk getting in their eye, and it still works! (2 drops total, 2-3 times a day)

      Reply
  27. I wanted to let you know that I used the tea poultices to sooth my irritated eye and had a bad allergic reaction that required medical attention. I am allergic to ragweed so I did not use chamomile as you cautioned. I had calendula and so that is what I used. Come to find out that Calendula is also in the ragweed family. I was not aware of this and thought you might need to update your recipe to also caution against calendula if you have allergies to ragweed, to avoid anyone else from making the same mistake. Lessoned learned. I will do more research to be better informed of all plants related to ragweed.

    Reply
      • Thank you for all this helpful information Heather! I am doing the breastmilk remedy with my 7-month old infant now, but was wondering if he’s too young for the raw honey remedy since I know kids under the age of 1 are not supposed to consume anything with honey. I know he’s technically not “consuming” it when I put it in his eyes, but are there risks with using honey with him since he is under 1? Also, is it safe to use lavender EO with him at this age as well?

        Thank you so much for offering a natural approach!. I’m so fed up with going to the pediatrician who only prescribes pharmaceutical drugs that he/she may or may not know are effective!

        Reply
  28. It worked. Bad case of bacterial conjunctivitis from running in the mud at a spartan race! Woke up with eye completely bloodshot and glued shut. Used the honey salt recipe and two days later my doctor said it worked! Pass on the prescription!

    Reply
  29. I developed pink eye and tried the honey and water drops. Made my eyes feel so much better and took the red away. Thank you for the hint! I’m a big fan of honey for healing but never thought it would work on pink eye.

    Reply
  30. Hi, I just wanted to add a comment on the activity of Manuka Honey in treating infections. The active component in Manuka Honey is called Methylglyoxal (sometimes known as MGO), and this accounts for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. The higher the level of MGO is, the stronger the action of the honey. Some companies still use the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating, but this is being fazed out in the industry due to being an unreliable and somewhat vague method of testing. An MGO rating of 250 and above is required for effective treatment against bacteria etc. Manuka Honey from New Zealand is particularly high in this compound due to the native Manuka that grows there. I had a sore eye the last couple of days and have been putting MGO 400+ Manuka Honey externally on my eye, but a bit got into my eye and it stung like crazy! Thanks for the suggestion of mixing it with water (probably should have done that in the first place ;-), although when you do mix it with water make sure the water is no hotter that 37 degrees Celcius, which is the approximate temperature of the hive. Same warning applies – do not use if you are allergic to bee products. Thanks for all your great posts!

    Reply
  31. Can anyone tell me if I can use any of these on a 2 year old ( no breast milk here sadly) ? She has had pink eye going on 3 or 4 days. Husband has started a new job and we don’t have insurance to see a doctor without paying up front, which is extremely expensive, and if she can, can you tell me the dosages I need to use. Thanks!

    Reply
  32. Easy Pink Eye remedy that works!! 2 full droppers of sovereign C.S, with 1tsp raw organic honey, with .25 tsp of coconut oil, some distilled water in a 1oz tincture dropper bottle warmed up in hot water bath. Put drops in eye every hour and in literally hours you are nearly cured. By end of day 98% there. And next day continue with the drops, viola cured and happy (I had an alarming- bloody red scary eye with greenish sticky gunk one moment) and hours later total healing occurring. No Dr. bills, no bad antibiotics, and instant results…so happy for nature’s solutions.

    Reply
  33. Hi Heather, thanks for the info. I’m about to try the honey drops for my sons suspected conjunctivitis(it’s Sunday- will take him to doc tomorrow)
    Sorry to be a word Nazi but thought I would mention that in your method for making the honey solution the hot water might spoil the healing properties of the ‘honey’ not the ‘water’ 🙂
    Thanks, Christine

    Reply
  34. I must admit I’m fascinating reading all of somebody else’s wonderful experiences of success, just i can’t share mine, don’t have one, before I read this site i experience using honey drops, tea bags, breast milk, compresses, in the past, I’m having this excessive twitching due to dry eye, can’t say no longer what it is, if its conjunctivitis, pink eye, allergy, my tears are sometimes like lemon juice, I sometimes have white mucous strings, like someone said, I.ve spent a fortune with consultation, eye drops, gels, creams, remedies, punctal plugs, etc., nothing worked, I know those remedies do work, and have worked for my friends, all of them, but me. I also must admit don’t drink water. Every morning I pray waking up better. I will try the apple cider vinegar. I wish anyone could comment for remedies please.

    Reply
    • I’m sorry for what you’re going through, Alex. If I were in your situation I would consult another doctor. The symptoms you mentioned are not consistent with symptoms experts use to describe pink eye.

      Reply
  35. Hi Heather.. I must say this post is really really helpful to whose set of people going through issues with their eyes.. I would like to share my problem and need you to help me with your suggestions.. I am suffering from eye redness.. It’s always red with watery.. I have been to numerous ophthalmologists but to no avail. They say i have dry eyes but i don’t agree to it as i believe it’s something else.. I also suffer from blepharitis with light acne on my face. I’m a firm believer in home remedies and right diet. Please suggest what could help me?

    Reply
    • Hi Ravi, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, because I’m not a medical professional, I’m not able to give advice regarding specific situations. I just share what’s worked for my family, and supporting research I’ve found along the way.

      Reply
  36. I have a new one. The juice from raspberries! This seems kinda strange every time I use it or discuss it but… It WORKS!
    Gently squeeze a couple fresh raspberries to release the juice or thaw frozen berries and use the juice that pools. A drop or two in the affected eye. This will burn at first, quickly followed by a soothing feeling. A treatment just once or twice is usually sufficient.

    Reply
  37. I just cured my infants pink eye with breastmilk. Not sure if it was the bacterial or viral kind but the breastmilk cleared it up in a few hours and I only had to use a few drops !

    Reply
    • Breast milk worked wonders for me too!!!

      Last year I had pink eye for FOUR MONTHS. After month 3, it manifested into a sinus infection but the mucus was coming out of my eyes and was as painful as it sounds. Prescribed EVERY eye drop under the sun and still nothing helped.

      That too familiar pain came back two days ago and I by default dug up the five eye drops I still had left over. Before turning to something that didnt work before, I thought I would do some research on how to cure it with some natural ingredients.

      BEYOND GRATEFUL I FOUND THiS BLOG!!! Boiled some water with honey and salt. Every hour put a couple drops in each eye. The next morning, the puffiness and raw feeling around my eye was gone.

      A girlfriend just recently had a baby and I asked for some breast milk. She gave me a generous amount and I only put two drops in each eye last night before falling asleep. While I had some eye inhabitants this morning, the pain was COMPLETELY gone! The itchiness, the puffiness, the agitation – DISPELLED!

      I am confident that with the continued use of breastmilk, that this will be part of my past as quickly as I need it to be.

      THANK YOU ALL so much for sharing your experiences!!!!! You saved me a few months of agony and irritation 🙂

      Reply
  38. Oh My! Thank you Thank You.. Thank you! I’ve seen many blogs, posts etc on using honey so I gave that a try… started treating my son on Fri when we noticed & didn’t necessarily want to go to an ER. On Sat Afternoon most of the red was gone! I also treated myself on Sat when I started showing symptoms. the Honey mixture… worked like a charm! It’s now just Monday & we both feel great! Thank you. 🙂

    Reply
    • what is the honey mixture i keep reading about….can someone relay the message with the measurements please and thank you

      Reply
  39. I ‘m hoping that someone who reads this may be able to give me their input. I’ve had pink eye since Sunday morning of this week, and had begin using expressed breast milk in it on Monday. It is now Thursday, and though my symptoms are much improved, I still have pink eye! Does this seem normal or should it be gone by now? I’m using the drops probably 4 to 6 times a day. Thank you!

    Reply
  40. I just wanted to add, that while colloidal silver does work wonders for pink eye, make sure you are not using one with a protein binder in it. I was not aware mine had one, because manufacturers are not required to tell you. And, mine even says it does not contain protein on the label! Protein would be gelatin from animals. It harbors bacteria. It has been proven in tests. And, it was proven when I sprayed some of the Nature’s Path Silver Wings Colloidal Silver in my affected eye. It has gotten way worse now, even with antibiotics. I may have to go back to the doctor now. 🙁 Check out this study. Very informative.

    Reply
  41. I have tried the hit and cold compress for my eye infection but every time I do it my vision is blurred for at least 10 minutes. Is that normal?

    Reply
    • Yes….the pore from your eye lashes are draining oils which blurs your vision for a while……that is actually a good thing because it keeps those pore unclogging which can cause styes.

      Reply
    • Yessenia Hi Moma C says try Goldenseal eye wash helps too However using Yellowdock ice cubes OR hit OR cold compresses made from the ladder stops the itch thx medicinewoman

      Reply
  42. colloidal silver is a great all around treatment that I use for anything and everything. Great for animals and people and infections and bacteria. It works instantly on pink eye!

    Reply
    • God,
      Lord,
      I’m about to miss Thanksgiving. I’m the prayer of the fam. It’s awesome that you posted. Pink eye since Friday. … it’sTuesday. My family’s dr. say can’t fit me in. I’m a RN, and know importance of silver. U rock. Thanks for helping me remembering ?

      Reply
  43. I use homeopathic granules Euphrasia 9ch. It has cured my 5 month old puppy, who has had reoccurant pink since she was born. Medecine from the vet worked only when she was having the drops. Two days later the pink eye returned all gunky too. I rub a little lard onto the pills and puppy wolfs them down. After 2 days 3x pills 3x a day no more pink eye. I did also use diluted honey from my beehive as drops, but as I use euphrasia on myself I thought I’d do that too.
    I should have left a day or two as a reference point. If she gets it again I’ll do a test

    Reply
  44. Thanks a lot!!
    Mine has been a week and two days now… Still swollen, red and painfully irritating..
    Very sensitive to light..
    Been using gentamicin eye drops but nothing seems better..
    I’ll try the honey mixture solution..
    Thanks

    Reply
    • I used to get that every summer. I found Opticrom eye drops the best. And I ate lots of natural yoghurt and drank lemon water (half lemon squeezed into warm water). It seems to be more about building your immune system to fight it and slowly but surely it works. I did find that Opticrom really soothed it

      Reply
  45. Last night my eye felt like I had rubbed it with sandpaper. Still very irritated and red this morning. I looked up home remedies and just tried the honey solution. The relief was instant! Im going to carry my little jar and dropper to work with me today! Thanks!

    Reply
  46. So my husband called to tell me our daughter woke up with “pink eye” this morning. I told him to bring her to the doctor but he said he wanted to wait first. I called to check on her and he said the redness and swelling were gone and you have to get real close to see that it’s a little pink. I asked him if he put something in it and he said yes. When I asked what he told me breast milk. Huh? Apparently he read somewhere that breast milk is a natural remedy for pink eye. Lucky for her I am still nursing my 11 month old and her dad reads a lot. We will see if it lasts but I was amazed at what my breast milk can do.

    Reply
    • I have an 11 month old too and am still nursing. I’m going to pump and use some. My husband and I both woke up with it this morning. I am worried because Christmas is in a few days.

      Reply
      • My daughter woke with it this morning … we’re heading off to see family today! Sadly no longer breastfeeding so will have to try Manuka honey and beg my SIL for a few drops of her BM 🙂 Hope you guys are feeling better.

        Reply
  47. Breast milk is amazing!! My daughter had a clogged tear duct (looked the same as pink eye, puss and all) when she was an infant. After the drops from the doctor were not helping, i did some research and came across the use of breastmilk. After purposely getting some in her eye while feeding ONE TIME, she never had the issue again! Unfortunately for me she is now 3 and I’ve long dried up, or I would be putting some in my eye right now! Doctor gave me thick white drops, but they are very hard to get in my eye and horribly burn when i actually do. Hopefully something works!

    Reply
    • My son has red eye since 22 Dec 2015, I used breastmilk which it was starting to clear and then dr prescribed him torbex. It’s been 3 days now and his eyes are getting worse. I don’t know what else to give him.

      Reply
  48. I tried a different brand of silver and it said don’t use it in your eyes. I don’t see why you can’t it just says it contains water and silver.

    Reply
    • Yikes! Never use any brand in your eyes other than Sovereign. The difference is parts per million and the higher concentrates can blind you. Sovereign is 10 ppm and is almost like water. Do Not use any other brand in your eyes!

      Reply
  49. Ha! Of course breastmikk can fix it! It’s amazing! My question is, if I pump a ton of breastmik and freeze it in an ice cube tray, can I then thaw it out and use if for things like this in the future? Does anybody know if it’ll lose its healing power? I’m about to wean my last baby and I feel like it may be worth a shot before I go dry!

    Reply
    • Yes. Freeze it. But after its cubed transfer to a sealed container for longer term freezing. I wonder if canning is also an option.

      Reply
  50. Also, mommypotamus, I LOVE these kinds of posts, they are so incredibly helpful! I love the simple solutions, and the ‘when to see a doctor’ section. I’m not AGAINST doctors, I just like to take care of it at home whenever possible. I printed the tummy aches remedies and refer to it whenever there is trouble. As a mom this saves me so much time and worry…. It’s kind of scary to just google something and try remedies!

    Reply
  51. Sadly I’m not still nursing still and my 16 month old has signs of bacterial pink eye…green gunky etc. I have FROZEN stored breastmilk. any thoughts on if that might still work? Other suggestions? I am leery about silver as he’s little and the last thing I need is more eye irritation he’s crabby enough as it is.

    Reply
  52. My 12 month old had pink eye and my grandmother told me about the salt water solution. I gave it a try and it made a huge difference! It cleared it up within a few days.

    Reply
  53. Does the Manuka honey burn because I heard honey burns real bad when you put it in your eye and is that raw honey and where can I get it and is it real pricey? Can I use any kind of raw honey? Also the Chamomile tea do I just put the tea bags on the outside of my eye closed or do I have to squeeze it out or do I use a loose bulk type I make my own not the tea bags? Please let me know soon as possible! I tired the dr. drops which I hate putting chemicals into my eye and drops to and it burned plus I am not good at putting drops in my eyes and close them when I do and it touched my corner of me eye and also the lashes to so I am not using it! Also I am into natural homeopathic so I tried the Bella Donna homeopathic pellets under the tongue and it made me feel terrible and had bad side effects and also I tried something else homeopathic for my eyes and it had the same results! 🙁 Yesterday after three days it seemed better and white but my left eye still felt like it had something in it and my right was okay! But today they are both a little pink and it still feels like something is in it and irritated and had what I call eye burger in the corner what you get when you wake up in the morning and the left eye had the wet looking lashes! I ordered the natural eye drops which got great reviews from Amazon and I hoping it works but I am scared to put it in my eyes and don’t like drops! I am still waiting for it to come! I don’t know what to do and feel hopeless and upset and worried! I am worried about my family and cats getting it to! I heard and know my cats can get it to! I am trying to be real careful! So if you can think of anything natural that wont sting or burn and wont be scary to put in my eyes to get rid of it fast please let me know! I would appreciate it! Also I cant get or have breast milk and the Silver thing I cant get and don’t want to try and I am scared to try the salt one and don’t have the tablets either! I want something I have and can use here in my home! Also I am on a tight budget! Take care and I hope to hear from you soon please! 🙂

    Reply
  54. I am just wondering how long to expect this to last. I know it is bacterial pink eye so it might take longer? but how long is normal, even when doing the above reccomend actions? we have had 2 full days now and I’m not sure at this point day 3 will be much better. Thank you!

    Reply
  55. I agree with many. I just restocked my oils stash at home and need somewhere to store them (other than the current home of an empty baby wipes case). I just don’t want to spend $20 – $40 on this expedition. This is a great idea, and I can make this work. I like the clay idea, so that each has its own stand, since I wont be taking them out on outings (no need for the fashionable travel foamy case.). Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  56. I think I may have some form of the pink eye. I don’t know if its from stress or allergies (which I’ve neber had before) but my eyes are a little pink and I get relief from sleep. I’ve used some generic eye drops and they worked for a min but it still feels itchy and slightly pink. I don’t have any yellow or green mucus but my tears are a slight sticky. I don’t know any new mommy’s to ask for some milk but any advice would be great. I can’t afford to see the Dr. Thank u in advance.

    Reply
  57. I know its been a few years since you posted this, but I thought I would share both my appreciation for your suggestions as well as my success story with them.
    My children had some sort of virus go through here. After having the virus go the rounds, my one year old wakes up with what appears to be viral pink eye. I say your post and started treating her with collodial silver. 48 hours later the water glossy pink tinged eye was looking very normal. I am grateful for the advise, I was not looking forward to the possibility of pink eye running through all 10 kids. (I treated the rest of them a few times to help avoid contamination.) Thank you!

    Reply
  58. Hello , I’ve recently got pink eye just this morning, it really sucks.Coming across this site has really put some ideas out there I’ll sure tell my mom about.Thanks for all the help everyone.I hope these ideas work wonders.:-) 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Reply
  59. A fox comes to eat in our garden. I think he has pink eye. It was really bad last week, and this week is still bad. I’m wondering if there’s anything I can put in the food that will make him better. This Euphrasia sounds interesting. Anyone know anything else safe that can be eaten that would help get rid of pink eye?

    Reply
  60. I tried the honey and salt water drops and they worked wonders! They did sting when I first put them in, but then I could tell that they were drying up the gunk it only took 15 seconds or so before the stinging went away. Thanks so much for posting this!

    Reply
  61. Thank you for the thorough discussion of pink and remedies. It was helpful to ward off those rushing me to the dr. for a prescription. In my experience, most infections have cleared up on their own as quickly as those treated for all three of my children and myself. I laughed out loud when I read “south of Pucketts.” I spent many summers in Long Creek, NC NEXT DOOR to Pucketts gas station/mart with sawdust on the floors etc. How many can their be? Jen H.

    Reply
  62. Thank you! I just woke up with my eye red and itching, and then found this article. Your honey mixture worked like a charm!

    Reply
  63. Hi, I would like to know if I can mix honey with commercial saline solution or sterile solution in a bottle bought from a clinic to make the eye drops?

    Reply
  64. Hi Mommypotamus, thanks for another great post! 🙂

    I have tried the raw honey & salt eye drops you suggested, and it is so amazing! My eyes cleared almost immediately & made my dry eyes feel nourished. Since I have chronic dry eyes & easily get inflammation (redness), could I make this eye drop to use regularly? If so, what is shelf life? How long would you keep it for? Or do you recommend making a fresh batch daily?

    Thanks for your thoughts. 🙂

    Reply
  65. Well I’m not a mommy but a daddy. I just used some breast milk in my left eye. I’m showing signs of pink eye and have a five day old lil baby girl, so I’m a little nervous that I am getting it. I’ll keep you guys updated with signs of breast milk working or not.
    Thanks for all the help from this site.
    Robbie

    Reply
  66. I tried warm cinnamon tea bags: BAD IDEA. Not sure why but it burned! not because too hot- maybe oils in cinnamon?? Anybody know?

    Reply
  67. I used this recipe for an infected area below my eye. Improvements were seen within the same day and a full recovery by the next day.

    Reply
  68. I’ve had this condition for 3 days now. Just went for a swim in the ocean & infection has cleared up completely & about 70% of the redness is gone.

    In general the symptoms were clearing up anyway but the ocean swim seems to have accelerated the process significantly

    Reply
  69. So glad you brought up breast milk. I have told others for the past 35+ years to use this for conjunctivitis. It’s the best remedy ever. I first heard of breast milk being used for the eyes, in Africa, after a man had cobra venom sprayed in his eyes. Those with him rushed him back to the village and expressed a nursing woman’s breast milk into his eyes, thus neutralizing the venom. I figured if it would work for that, it could work for any eye infection, etc

    Reply
  70. This is great information! We use Manuka honey for so many things. I’m new to colloidal silver. My 2yr old son has pink eye. How many drops would I use for his eyes? Thank youuu!

    Reply
  71. Malachite (a beautiful green stone) was used before these remedies,it would be ground finely and put in a tight weave cotton cloth ,then “tapped” and only the finest powder got through, then it was added to “sterile” water and put into the eye a few drops at a time…. it contains a copper compound and copper has been shown to be antimicrobial/antiviral

    Reply
  72. Colloidal Silver (10 ppm/ 1-2 drops per eye/3-4x day) is the BEST remedy I have found for pink eye. My kids are now 14 and 16. The first time I tried it for Conjunctivitis was when they were 4 and 6. They had been at their dad’s house for a few days. When they came back to me both their eyes looked awful! He said, “Oh it’s just allergies…. right?” WRONG! It was pink eye. I say this to set the stage for the degree to which they had pink eye, both kids, in both eye, for at least two-three days. I immediately started putting Silver in each eye. I was amazed that how much they improved in just 24 hours of a few treatments. It has been my go to ever since for pink eye. I also would put a few drops under their tongue each time I put it in their eyes.

    Reply
  73. I found this article while researching ways to treat a possible herpes infection of m eye. I don’t know if I’ll try the suggestions here because I had a small ulcer on my cornea that’s healing up now with antibiotic drops. However, I wanted to post that I have used chamomile tea in my eyes as well as Sovereign Silver liquid and they both work very quickly for bacterial infections. For the tea, I boiled water and made the tea as usual. After it cools, just pick up the tea bag and squeeze a couple of drops in. I found it worked after only one or two treatments. For the silver I used two drops every couple of hours because I had a severe infection, and one day later it was resolved. It does sting, but goes away after five minutes or so. I hope this helps someone 🙂

    Reply
  74. With the honey and warm water advise- is it supposed to read ‘dont make the water too hot or it’ll disolve the HONEY’S properties (not water)?

    Reply
  75. Will these remedies work even when the eyelid is really swollen? There is a lot of green goop all day today, so I am pretty sure it’s bacterial. Does that make a difference with these remedies? I’m really hoping to avoid antibiotic drops in my eyes but my eye is really in bad shape.

    Reply
    • Hi Debra, I am not a doctor and am not giving advice, but based on the CDC’s “When To See A Doctor” guidelines mentioned in the post it sounds like you should seek medical attention. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

      Reply
  76. Cold compress to eyes, have lots of sleep and flush your eyes out regularly with clean water. And don’t forget to hydrate well for a speedy recovery.

    Reply
  77. HI there- I’m surprised you did not have Boric Acid on your list… that is what my mom used when we were kids, and I still use it today. Thank you for the info on Colloidal Silver. Just what I was looking for!

    Reply
  78. 5 stars
    Hi Heather, thank you so much for the remedies I 100% agree with the honey, breast milk and silver colloidal.
    We have try all of those different kids diferent times.
    Now I want to add when I was a little girl I remember my mom used to make MARIGOLD WATER and wipe our eyes many times a day until it disappear.
    I totally forgot about that one when talking to my sister today she remained me about those “sticky deyes” lol.
    My little girl has it right now so I came locking for the silver colloidal and found your article.
    Thank you so much!
    Have a healthy and happy life 😊

    Reply