Natural cures for a goopy eye?

[Quiverfillin]

We are on vacation and away from my herbal books and DD has come down with some kind of eye infection. Her eye has yellow gook in it when she wakes up, and she gets "eye boogers" during the day. It's started to get swollen and red around the eye. She looks horrible and it's bugging her.

What kind of natural cures are there for this? I tried using my breastmilk, but that didn't seem to help at all.

HELP mamas!

ETA: She's 14 months old.

[Leininger27]

Sounds like pink eye. I would continue the breastmilk!

[mamabear]

I was going to suggest breastmilk, too! Try a tea bag - moisten a tea bag and squeeze some of the excess water out and wipe the outside of her eye (obviously!) with it when it gets goopy. Use a different bag each time you clean her eye. Works for us...

[mamabear]

I just looked in one of my natural remedies books for kids and your description fits the one for conjunctivitis. Being that you're on vacation, the easiest remedy for you would probably be the honey water... "Honey water can be used to cleanse the eye; it acts to destroy any infection, soothes and encourages healing." They also suggest boiling fennel seeds to make an eyewash.

Good Luck!

[skayers01]

My midwife suggests breastmilk and a warm washcloth

[geckoed]

we have pink eye here. My sister works at Kresge Eye Institute. I was SURE she'd throw antibiotic eye drops at me. She AND her Drs agree that aside from daycare/school rules (not an issue for us) there is NO NEED for actual treatment. It will go away. Saline drops will keep the eye more comfortable. cotton balls w/ warm water wiping inside to outside, a new ball each time will help with goop.