How to Soothe Sore Eyes

Long days at work, too much screen time, allergies, and eye infections – there are lots of reasons we experience sore eyes. Eye soreness is frustrating for us all, but there are some simple ways you can soothe your sore eyes and prevent them from getting as sore in future.

What causes sore eyes?

• Incorrect glasses or contact lenses
• Too much screen time (TV, phone, laptop)
• Viral infections like the cold
• Too much sun exposure
• Rubbing and touching eyes too much

While there isn’t much you can do about catching a virus, preventing sore eyes is often about being mindful of your surroundings and how you use your eyes. Reducing screen time, avoiding touching your eyes, and checking with your eye doctor that you have the right lens prescription are good steps to take if you experience sore eyes regularly.

If your eyes are already sore and you want to know how to soothe them, reduce swelling and redness, or how to treat pink eye, the tips below will help you out.

5 tips for soothing sore eyes at home

1. Apply cool compresses. A cool sensation on your eyes will help relieve soreness and swelling. This could be splashing your eyes with cool water, wrapping ice cubes or frozen food in a cloth and gently pressing it against your eyes, pressing a cold spoon against your eye, or pressing a cool, damp towel against your eyes. Remember, excessive cold could make your eyes feel worse, so don’t apply frozen objects directly.
2. Use natural remedies. Cucumber, tea bags, and rose water are amongst the great natural remedies you can use for sore eyes. A cool, damp tea bag, a slice of cucumber, or a cotton pad dipped in rose water will help soothe your eyes, reduce swelling, and give you some much-needed relaxation.
3. Dim the lights. Spend some time in a dim or dark room, away from screens, to give your eyes some much-needed rest. If you want to carry on using your phone, laptop, or TV, lower the brightness of the screen.
4. Use artificial tears. Eye soreness often goes hand-in-hand with dry eyes. Some artificial tears or lubricating eye drops will soothe your eyes and give them some hydration. You can buy artificial tears at the drug store. If you’re suffering from sore, dry eyes, avoid eye drops with redness removing properties as these can make your eyes dryer.
5. Take eye breaks. If you work on a computer all day, using the 20-20-20 rule will help reduce eye soreness. This involves spending 20 seconds looking at something 20ft away every 20 minutes. Spending 20 seconds looking at something across the street outside of your window is the best way to do this – and set a timer on your phone so you don’t forget. One study even found that following the 20-20-20 rule reduces fatigue and improves productivity at work.

With these tips, we hope your eyes will be feeling rested soon. Above all, don’t neglect your eyes, give them plenty of breaks, and make soothing them a priority every day.