REMEDIES FOR BLOODSHOT EYES
Is the whirlwind of year-end parties, late nights and the season’s celebratory drinking leaving you with puffy, bloodshot eyes the morning after? If so, you need to read this article before you go out on the town again, because we’ll tell you how not to wake up in the morning looking so wrecked and bleary-eyed, you’re tempted to wear sunglasses to go get morning coffee.
When a large quantity of alcohol enters the system, tiny blood vessels on the surface of the eye (called the sclera) gets dilated, causing the red, inflamed appearance. Heavy drinking also depletes the body’s reserve of nutrients needed for eye health, which can lead to a condition known as alcoholic optic neuritis.
Given that your social calendar will be full until the New Year, and you’ll probably be imbibing more alcohol than you normally do, keep this simple remedies handy, and learn how to get rid of red eyes.
1) Cold Spoon Compress
This one is a super easy hack you can pull off almost anywhere. Wash 4 tablespoons thoroughly and place in the deep freezer. If there’s no refrigerator around, a glass of ice water will do as well. Leave the spoons in the freezer, or in the ice water glass for a few minutes. When they become tolerably cold (not frozen), place a couple on your eyes with the concave side against your skin. The bowl of the spoons should sit against the eye socket’s natural contour. Lie back, and relax, until the spoons become warm. Exchange them for the other set that is still cooling. Do this for about 20 minutes. The sudden reduction of temperature will constrict the blood vessels, decreasing the redness.
2) Cold Bread Press
Holding a slice of cold bread that has just been removed from the fridge does a fine job of reducing redness, itching and inflammation.
3) Witch Hazel
The astringent properties of witch hazel do a great pick-me-up job when your eyes need a little outside help to looks bright and lively again. Soak cotton balls in witch hazel extract and hold over the eyes for 10 minutes. You can use this as a rinse as well.
4) Chamomile And Fennel Eye Bath
Crush some fennel seeds and boil it with chamomile in water. Steep for 30 minutes and then strain. Use the remaining infused liquid like an eye bath. Make a big batch and put some away in the fridge to use later, as often as needed. If you don’t have fennel seeds or dried chamomile/chamomile teabags, any one of these ingredients in water will work fine as well.
5) Baking Soda Rinse
Mix ¼ tbsp of baking soda in ½ cup of water. Rinse eyes, and try to keep them open when you do it. The baking soda will cleanse and soothe the redness.
6) Apple Cider Vinegar
ACD is one of those cure-all health and beauty solutions that should always be in your pantry. The malic acid in apple cider vinegar decreases the impact of alcohol on eyes. Use 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and use to rinse 2-3 times a day.