The Case for Natural Eye Drops: Benefits and Limitations
What are the Benefits and Limitations of Natural Eye Drops?
Natural eye drops can safely wash out irritants, allergens and pollutants and provide light gentle and soothing hydration as well as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. In general natural eye drops do not treat or cure disease if you are experiencing acute eye symptoms please consult your eye doctor.
Why Use Natural Eye Drops?
You may be thinking about using natural eye drops instead of Over-The-Counter eye drops because you have discovered that OTC eye drops contain preservatives that can irritate eyes, have addictive ingredients such as vasoconstrictors that can cause long-term eye damage, and contain toxic ingredients that are poisonous if swallowed such as tetrahydrozoline.
Articles and Research on Potential Risks of OTC Eye Drops:
"The Red Eye Secret Visine Doesn't Want You to Know" This article highlights the side effects of over-the-counter (OTC) red eye relief products like Visine, Clear Eyes, and Murine, and not to ignore the warning labels on these products. These products cause the blood vessels in your eye to temporarily reduce in size reducing redness, however with long-term use, this effect can cause damage to the blood vessels causing them to permanently enlarge.
"Health Risks and Benefits of Eye Drops" This article outlines types of eye drops and their ingredients and potential effects in terms of preservatives, additives and pharmaceuticals.
"Over-the-Counter Eye Drops: Potential Risks" This article outlines OTC eye drops come with their own set of risks. Some drops contain chemicals that your eyes should not be exposed to long term. Because of this, you have to be careful to only use a certain amount of drops every day.
"Why Eye Drops with Preservatives Are Bad for Dry Eye" This article outlines how eye drops with preservatives can irritate already dry eyes.
"Tetrahydrozoline poisoning" This is an informative article on tetrahydrozoline poisoning. Tetrahydrozoline is a common ingredient in OTC eye drops and is poisonous if swallowed. Please do not leave eye drops with tetrahydrozoline in the reach of young children.
1996 “Eye drops the hidden poison” This research paper recommends the monitoring of toxic effects of eye drops in clinical practices. Eye drops are very commonly prescribed but their potential for systemic absorption and serious toxicity may be forgotten”
2015 “Preservative from the eye drops and the ocular surface” This research paper reviews the most common preservatives and their side effects as well as possible alternative eye drop preservatives.
What to look for in Natural Eye Drops?
Sterile
Anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
Free of preservatives
Shelf stable
Shown to be clinically effective and safe for eyes
Hydrating: shown to assist rehydrating cells
Nontoxic and nonaddictive
Gentle and soothing for eyes
Fractionally Distilled Aloe Vera: Natural Eye Drops
One option that checks all the above boxes for natural eye drops is Fractionally Distilled Aloe Vera. Fractionally distilled aloe vera that is steam distilled so it can be broken down into a more gentle form of aloe, removing any solids and irritants, leaving beyond aloe vera’s cellular water that is gently hydrating, shelf-stable, free of preservatives, and impurities. Fractionally Distilled Aloe Vera water contains 200 different active ingredients including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help accelerate wound healing, soothe inflammation, reduce redness, and assist in rehydrating cells. Research has shown that Aloe Vera contains properties that can help to reduce eye inflammation and dryness and have no negative side effects. Fractionally Distilled Aloe Vera is completely non-toxic and not only safe to swallow but can be used as a supplement.
Aloe Vera Eye Research:
" Aloe vera extract activity on human corneal cells" This 2012 study of Aloe vera on human corneal cells and found that it contained properties that help to reduce eye inflammation and dryness. The study also found that at low concentrations it had no negative side effects on the eye cells.”
“Technology of eye drops containing aloe (Aloe arborescens Mill.--Liliaceae) and eye drops containing both aloe and neomycin sulphate” “This 2003 study tested the pH, osmotic pressure, density, viscosity, TLC analysis, the content of aloenin and aloin, studies of anti-microbial activity of Aloe drops and found that Aloe Vera drops have at minimum a two-year shelf life.”
"Aloe Vera Gel-derived Eye Drops for Alkaline Corneal Injury..." This 2020 study found that aloe vera drops helped to speed in the healing corneal injuries in rabbits and reduce overall eye inflammation.”
"Treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia with topical Aloe vera drops" This 2015 study found Aloe was effectively used to treat ocular growths”
"Aloe vera: an in vitro study of effects on corneal wound closure and collagenase activity" This 2014 study found aloe vera to speed wound healing in corneas, but would like to further evidence and research done.”
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