After a vacation to the Bahamas in August 1997, I arrived home with a pterygium*. Basically, it was this reddish growth thing on the surface of one of my eyes (the white part technically known as the sclera). I promptly went to the eye doctor and was told that it was a pterygium which, in some cases, can be brought on by intensive sun exposure. The way to avoid getting pterygiums is to wear sunglasses at all times whilst outside. But too late for me to find this out. The pterygium, I was informed, was permanent and there to stay. In all its unattractive annoyingness. (It was quite noticeable; people would stare and ask what happened to my eye.)
I started wearing sunglasses right away----and have never stopped to this day----to prevent any further damage. But I felt that there had to be a way to rid myself of this thing. I made a trip to an hippie herbal shop and somehow got in a conversation with a guy that considered himself an iridologist**. I had never met such a person before but he was very enthusiastic and assured me that my problem could be easily fixed with a eyewash of eyebright tea. His profession sounds wacky to the average but I really wanted a fix for this ptergium. So I bought some eyebright tea and followed his instructions.
I did the eyewashes maybe two or three times. They were painful and the whole white of my eye would turn red. And, sure, I worried I was blinding myself based on some random dude's advice. But then by the third time, it was gone. And it never came back. Yet I was told I would always have it.
*A pterygium is an elevated, superficial, external ocular mass that usually forms over the perilimbal conjunctiva and extends onto the corneal surface. Pterygia can vary from small, atrophic quiescent lesions to large, aggressive, rapidly growing fibrovascular lesions that can distort the corneal topography, and, in advanced cases, they can obscure the optical center of the cornea.[medscape reference]
I started wearing sunglasses right away----and have never stopped to this day----to prevent any further damage. But I felt that there had to be a way to rid myself of this thing. I made a trip to an hippie herbal shop and somehow got in a conversation with a guy that considered himself an iridologist**. I had never met such a person before but he was very enthusiastic and assured me that my problem could be easily fixed with a eyewash of eyebright tea. His profession sounds wacky to the average but I really wanted a fix for this ptergium. So I bought some eyebright tea and followed his instructions.
I did the eyewashes maybe two or three times. They were painful and the whole white of my eye would turn red. And, sure, I worried I was blinding myself based on some random dude's advice. But then by the third time, it was gone. And it never came back. Yet I was told I would always have it.
 |
| Eyebright |
*A pterygium is an elevated, superficial, external ocular mass that usually forms over the perilimbal conjunctiva and extends onto the corneal surface. Pterygia can vary from small, atrophic quiescent lesions to large, aggressive, rapidly growing fibrovascular lesions that can distort the corneal topography, and, in advanced cases, they can obscure the optical center of the cornea.[medscape reference]
thank you for your post. my husbma
ReplyDeletehusband got only while in Mexico and we were told only surgery would remove it. Do you know where we can buy eyebright tea?
thank you for your post. my husbma
ReplyDeletehusband got only while in Mexico and we were told only surgery would remove it. Do you know where we can buy eyebright tea?
Hi Tiffany: You can *usually* find eyebright tea at your local health food store. If not, you may have to order online. This brand looks pretty good based on the review comments: http://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Herbals-Eyebright-Tea-Bags/dp/B0011DV87Y
ReplyDeleteHope your husband finds some relief! good luck: mary
thank you so much for this post. I have a pterygium in my right eye and a pinguecula in my left. I will try this. Just regarding the procedure if you could be specific as to the procedure, you used eyebright tea leaves, did you bring them to the boil, how many teaspoons to water (ratio) then did you use it as a rinse, or did you use an eye dropper? Awaiting your response thank you so much
ReplyDeleteAlso did you take anything else with this, like bilberry or liver cleansing capsules or was it only the eyebright tea rinse you used in a cup to soak the eye in? thank you
ReplyDelete