The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ava R (St. Petersburg, Fl) on 02/20/2015
★★★★★
I had Pink eye and I had just changed Drs. So, my new Dr. would not prescribe me anything. Well, I did the ACV and water four times a day. I also used the green tea bags twice a day to help with the soreness and I wash my hands a lot and I cleaned my glasses with the ACV, to make sure I would not get it again. It took a little over a week, but I think it took that long because I look at a computer working, at least 7 hours a day. I LOVE this website.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shannon (Tucson, Arizona) on 10/09/2012
★★★★★
Months ago, after a week of pink eye and after receiving two different prescription eye drops from two different doctors, I saw an eye specialist who informed me that I would have to wait out my pink eye because it was a viral infection. Desperate for relief, I came across the ACV cure. I mixed 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 teaspoon of [organic] Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother (raw). Then I dipped a cotton ball into the solution and dripped it into each eye every few hours. The eye specialist told me I should expect the pink eye to last up to 2 weeks, but using the ACV treatment it was gone in less than 6 hours! It was fairly painful because I used quite a bit of ACV, but it was so effective!! Also, moisturizing eye drops are really handy if the ACV makes your eyes overly sensitive- just make sure you wait until the ACV has done its job before you use them! Additionally, remember to wash your hands often, throw out any eye makeup you used before the infection, avoid touching your eyes or face, and use a clean pillowcase each night your eyes are infected.
Two days ago I woke up with pink eye again (associated with a sinus infection I'm assuming) and I got rid of it in one day! What a miracle!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dan K (Seattle WA ) on 03/02/2024
Sorry you went through that. Is your warning because the doctor said your retinal tear was caused by your use of the apple cider vinegar, or are you just saying don't do that while you have a retinal tear? Thanks
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by User123 (Nottingham, England) on 10/18/2016
★★☆☆☆
Having read through these pages a week ago and then again today I will offer a different opinion to what a lot of other people have said here. In particular I am wary of claims here that conjunctivits had been cured in "hours or days" due to the use of ACV.
I am on day 14 of acute keratoconjunctivitis (this is the viral version). It is now (very) slowly improving and the symptoms are starting to go away including the red eyes. I was told by the ophthalmologist that it will take a number of weeks for me to fully recover and as it is a virus like the common cold there is no cure for it, is is just a case of waiting for it to run it's course whilst trying to maintain comfort as much as possible.
Anyway, one week ago ago when my conjunctivitis was in full swing and I was more naive about such matters... I found this site and the claims that ACV with the mother was having positive effects on dealing with conjunctivitis. With an open mind I obtained a bottle and used it diluted but still with a bit of a sting, on my eyes, 3 - 4 times a day. I repeated this for about 5 - 6 days with the aim of the reduction of the red eye symptons and of some pain in my eyes. After a number of days it became obvious the ACV was not doing anything positive and so having seen no effect whatsoever I stopped use.
Thinking about it now I am not sure from a biological / medicine point of view what specifically in ACV is supposed to do to be effective against conjunctivitis. I am assuming its antibacterial proerties are considered to have a role in this... but would something with antibacterial properties help kill a virus?? I am aware of the very real health benefits of plants and so called alternative medicines and I will use them 100% every time in favour of modern medicine IF they provide me with benefits. However of all these people claiming ACV works, they can't all be wrong ... so I guess what works for one particular set of symptoms will not work for another similar but different set of symptons.
If you have conjunctivits I would suggest that you go and insist on seeing an OPHTHALMOLOGIST and insist on getting your eyes checked properly. In my case I first went to see a nurse at my local doctor surgery who was dismissive and not especially helpful. Then two days later when the symptons were significantly worse I went to see a doctor. The doctor was slightly more helpful but did not have the specialist tools or knowledge to make a particularly useful diagnosis other than a general comment about using eyedrops and it will go away after a few days.
It was only after I saw an ophthalmologist at the eye casualty and quite detailed study of my eyes that I was properly diagnosed with the problem that was one of the reasons I tried the ACV solution in the first place: I had as part of the conjunctivitis a "pseudomembrane" develop on all 4 of my inner lids and it was this that was causing excruciating pain when my eyes were closed for more than a few seconds. Anasthetic was dripped into my lids and each of these 4 pseudomembranes was surgically removed there and then. I was told to continue using liquid gel tablets as well as some anti viral eyedrops which I have already been using... I am told this will help with the keeping eyes closed and therefore sleeping, the other symptons of conjunctivitis will improve over time.
So.. that is my story. Feel free to try ACV anyway, it might work for you, it might not. Maybe you don't even have conjunctivitis after all, just a couple of the symptoms of it!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Hannah (Centennial, Colorado) on 06/13/2015
★★★★★
Yesterday morning I woke up with a bad case of pink eye. I get pink eye a few times a year so by now, I know when I have it. Neither of my parents were in town so I couldn't go get medicine And I had a rather large event happening that night, thankfully I found earth clinic. I tried the ACV treatment and although it burned like hell, it worked its magic and by that night you almost couldn't tell I had ever had pink eye. Before I put in the ACV I would rinse my eye out with black tea, and treated my eye about 3 times. Today I keep treating it just to make sure it's gone but I am extremely thankful I found this site, it saved me!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Thomas (Homewood, Illinois) on 03/22/2016
It's very odd that you would get pink eye several times a year, I've had it once in my life, and it's something that is contagious so, you would have to pick, it up from someone. Do you wash your hands frequently? Do, you touch your eyes a lot? I'm thinking you must because that's the only way you can catch it. It's isn't something that's airborne and goes into your eyes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Scott (Lockport, Ny Usa) on 04/15/2013
★☆☆☆☆
Please help. I have had viral conjuntivitis for over 4 months. I tried a prescription from an optomitrist and no help. I have now been using 1/4 tsp. Apple cider vinegar to 1/2 cup water mixture for over a week and while it seems to help the itchiness, my eye does not appear to be healing. There is a thick red line through my eye to the left and right of the color circle. It seems to be spreading to the other eye. Has any one ever heard of pink eye like this? I have no insurance but started to call opthamologists about appointments anyway. I am concerned I might be damaging the eye. Yeah, I'm scared. Any words of advice? Thanks
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brian (Houston, Tx) on 01/31/2012
ACV for Pink Eye
Be careful with this, I used 1/4 tsp in 4 oz for about 3 days. I quit using it about 4 days ago and I have had blurry vision ever since.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by John (Nj) on 11/21/2017
I got Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in jan 2016. I told my docs it did not fully go away. they said I could only get it once. my eye is so dry and have blepharitis that will not go away. my vision is blurred in one eye from sub corneal infiltrates. I am trying this Herbal Eye Formula
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mrsg (Fl , Usa ) on 11/22/2013
★★★★★
I woke up one morning with pink eye. In a glass of water in put enough ACV to tint the water and placed drops of it into my eye. It was cleared up completely within two days.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kathy (La) on 08/06/2013
★★★★★
Just last night I started getting pink eye and put 1Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (with the mother) in a half cup of water and poured the concoction on two cotton balls and let it drip into each eye. It stung briefly but then felt better. As of tonight you wouldn't even know I had pink eye! It was amazing! I did this about three times today.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lora (Bristol, Ct, USA) on 01/18/2013
★★★★★
Yes, ACV is very good for eye infection also. Use it as an eye drops.
5 part of water
2 part Manuka Honey
1 part of ACV
Also improves your vision!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Anna (St. Petersburg, Florida) on 08/19/2012
★★★★★
I used to get pink eye OFTEN as an acute allergic reation to my boyfriends cat. Because the conjunctivitis was neither viral nor bacterial, antibiotic eye drops and other medical remedies didn't help. After getting pink eye for what I swear was the 17th time, I looked for alternative cures and found Earth Clinic. Anyway, I administered the diluted ACV (____) to both eyes every 30 minutes for a day. Immediately the itchiness and discomfort was gone, although my eyes were still red. The following day, both eyes were almost back to normal and felt completely better. Another day after that and they were healthy again. Thanks, Earth Clinic!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shaina81 (Buffalo, Ny) on 07/11/2012
★★★★★
Two weeks ago I was exposed to pink eye, and Sunday night I got the Tell-tale Itchy eye and knew I had caught it. Monday morning my first stop was the doctors for the antibiotic drops. I've had pink eye many times in my life and usually by day two on the drops I see improvement, but this time is different. This infection is strong and today, day 3 of the drops it seems to have gotten worse and is starting to spread to my other eye. I have a huge party this coming Sunday and I can't cancel it over pink eye. Desperate, I turned to the internet for natural cures. I figured combining natural treatments couldn't hurt. That's when I found your site talking about ACV. I had a bottle of organic unfiltered ACV with "the mother" so I decided to give it a try.
I was REALLY nervous about stinging, I mean putting vinegar in my eye, the thought alone made me quiver. But I WAS desperate and it was the only home remedy listed which I had on hand. I diluted about 2 tsp into an 8 oz glass of slightly warmed spring water. I didn't have a dropper so instead I poured some of the mix into a shot glass and used it to flush out my eyes.
The sting wasn't bad at all. The itchiness was gone immediately. My three-day infected eye drained all the goop instantly and also the puffiness under it returned to normal but remained red and a bit sore. My other eye, which had just started to be red that morning litterally returned to white and healthy looking instantly after the first flush.
I will be repeating the flush every hour for the day, but after the immediate improvement I just had using it the first time, I am confident that this will work like a charm and my party plans for this coming sunday will be saved!
THANK YOU EARTH CLINIC!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Renee (Bergen Co., Nj) on 10/05/2011
★★★★★
Twice I have woken up with what appeared to be pink eye. In a small glass bowl, I put about an inch of distilled water and then using a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon, I added several drops of ACV (cheap distilled kind). I wash my hands well and then, leaning over the sink, rinse my eye with the diluted ACV. If I don't feel a slight burn, I add a few more drops of ACV. (I get it just strong enought to burn a little for a few seconds - nothing severe! ) I keep opening my eyes & moving my eyes around to make sure it gets in there. I did both eyes just in case. I then dried my eyes with a tissue. My eyes felt clear after just a few minutes. If after a few minutes, you still feel any irritation or your eye is not completely clear, just repeat the rinse several times.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by V (New York, NY) on 07/13/2009
★★★★★
ACV works! I have had the most severe, persistent case of viral conjunctivitis/dry eye for probably over a year now. Anyone who's had it knows that it is a real pain to cure, and comes back VERY easily. I've been to the eye doctor twice in this time and had tests to make sure it's viral, not bacterial, and every time he's said it pretty much amounts to dry eye. And he's prescribed me an exorbitantly expensive, teeny tiny bottle of medication. It worked during the time it was prescribed, but as soon as I'd stop using it, the dry eye would come back full force. This most recent time it has been particularly stubborn. My doctor's gentle approach of "let it cure itself, and use cold/warm compresses and natural tears" was not at all working. I'd tried all that, and other over-the-counter eye drops for "persistent dry eye" and, I swear to you, none of it worked. The one red eye would NOT got away. SO frustrating. And I can't afford to drop tons of money on tiny bottles of medication that I probably shouldn't be using permanently anyway.
So yesterday I tried this: 5 parts water, 2 parts honey (best grade), and 1 part pure apple cider vinegar. I mixed it up, put it in an eyedropper, and started using it every few hours or so (more or less). Always, when I first put it in, it burns quite a bit and my eye waters uncontrollably, and then a minute later there's a noticeable difference. My eye gets whiter. I did it one last time before bed last night and when I woke up, there was much less redness. At the end of today (I've been using it a little less because I didn't need it as much), there is hardly ANY redness. Mind you, my results were not as instantaneous as some other people's, so I had to keep trying. But I am so pleased and can't believe something has finally worked! Yes!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jackie (N. Cal, California) on 07/05/2009
★★★★★
Update on using acv and water for pink eye. Today is the 3rd day and I am 90% cured. No longer sensitive to light and eye is just barely swollen. There is just a bit of redness under the bottom lid but overall I feel great and can acutally read. I expect by tomorrow I will be back to normal. The most important thing though is that within 30 min. the gravely, itchy feeling left and did not come back.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by mel (USA) on 10/27/2021
I was thinking about the sting of the very well known eye drops Rx for pinkeye, call Vigamox, it hurts and stings as bad as ACV.
Long ago, medicine was in tea and powder form and people just took it as they needed to, now we are all spoiled, no bitter pills or powders, sweet coatings on our pills make them easier to swallow but do just the same as the old bitter potions our great grandparents had.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Loretta (New Jersey, US) on 04/26/2014
★★★★★
I had gotten some water splashed in my eyes while teaching a student how to wash their face... anyway.... my eye started itching the next day. Then two days later both eyes were goopy, swollen and itchy.... I have followed the instructions on this post and have been using the Apple Cider Vinegar for two days now. My eyes are still a little itchy day two however when I woke up this morning they weren't as goopy, swollen or itchy as the days prior. I see a big improvement. Also the eye that originally got splashed with water is no longer pink. I will continue to do this the rest of today and tomorrow so it will be a full 3 days like several people posted. I am so happy to not have had to go to the eye doctor and spend money I don't have and get antibiotics! Thanks!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kingq (Chonburi, Thailand) on 10/14/2013
★★★★★
Yea for Apple Cider Vinegar and Sea Salt as remedies for Pink Eye. Did 1.5 days using the ACV method and then 1.5 days doing the sea salt treatment as it stung less than the ACV. Completely cleared up the pink eye.
