Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is also called pink eye, and is easily identified by the characteristic pink on the cornea of the eye. It is due to an irritation of the mucus membrane that lines the eyes and eyelids. Symptoms include:

• Pain, irritation, and itching in the eye
• Discharge and watery eyes
• Swelling around the eyes
• Sensitivity to light

 In addition, the eyelids can sometimes stick together, especially after sleeping or napping.

What Causes Conjunctivitis?

The leading causes of conjunctivitis include allergies, infection, stress, and nutritional deficiencies. If you rub your eyes often, bacteria and viruses may be carried to the area from your hands. Some pharmaceutical drugs can also cause conjunctivitis, including antihistamines, oral contraceptives, steroids, Chlorpromazine, Digoxin, and Tetracycline. These drugs can also lead to additional vision problems.

Treatments for Conjunctivitis

Diet is important in treating conjunctivitis, and a diet rich in organic, whole foods, and fresh fruit is recommended. Vegetables high in antioxidants can help cleanse the system and reduce or remove the appearance of conjunctivitis. Antioxidant­rich foods include dark­green leafy vegetables, dark rich­colored berries, cherries, mangos, citrus fruit, melons, and purple or red grapes. Organic egg yolks are also recommended for their high carotenoid content; they are best eaten soft, rather than hard cooked. Organic raw eggs may be eaten after a thorough washing. Avoid processed and fried foods, excess sugar, and alcohol.

Nutritional supplementation includes vitamin A, vitamin B complex, beta­carotene, vitamin E, flavonoids, N­acetyl­cysteine (NAC), selenium, zinc, zeaxthanin, and taurine. Juice supplementation with a combination of carrot and beet juice, cucumber, parsley, and spinach is also recommended.

Traditional Chinese Medicine can improve vision problems by enhancing liver function with herbs like ginseng and Ginkgo biloba.

Other Considerations

Exercise your eyes on a regular basis to prevent or reverse vision problems. Relax your eyes, then focus, then relax. Blink regularly to reduce eyestrain and roll your eyes in a circular motion at least three times a day.