1- Make a homemade eyewash from the herb eyebright and
distilled water. You can find eyebright in bulk at most health or herbal
stores.
2- Boil 1 1/2 cups of distilled water with 2 tsp. of eyebright
on medium heat and keep the pot covered. After 15 minutes, remove your
concoction and allow it to cool.
3- Strain your eyewash through a coffee filter two or three
times. Then repeat this step again with a new coffee filter. This is
done to ensure there are no loose particles in your eyewash.
4- Fill your eyewash cup halfway with eyewash after making sure
it has cooled. Put your eye down onto the rim of your eyewash cup, then
tilt your head back and open your eye, moving it around to ensure the
eyewash covers your eye properly. Do this for about 25 seconds.
5-Lean forward and put the eyewash cup down, then empty out
remaining contents and rinse out your eyewash cup using a little bit of
your homemade eyewash. Repeat step 4 with your other eye.
Tips and Warnings
You eyebright eyewash can also be applied to the area around the eye to help alleviate redness or puffiness.
Some stores offer a
pre-made eyebright eyewash, or eyebright liquid extract that can be
added to water and used; if you prefer this, look around at different
herbal stores or online.
Keep your
eyebright eyewash refrigerated and dispose of it after 24 hours. If you
plan to use the wash daily, make a new solution every morning.
Since this
solution is used on eyes, ensure that you keep your preparation area
and containers, along with your hands, clean when making and applying
the solution.
If you wear contacts, always remove them before using any eyewash.
If eye
irritation worsens, is reoccurring, changes in vision occur, or you
believe you may have a serious infection, see your doctor immediately.
The eyebright wash is meant to clear eyes of film, foreign bodies and
mild irritation or infection, it is not a cure for serious eye problems.
