Stopping A Runny Eye With Tea?

Question

At my riding school, then one of the horses had a runny eye, and it looked like he was crying, but with dis coloured tears. It obviously wasnt serious. My instructor said she would put some cold tea on it tomorrow morning because it helped to stop a runny eye.

What did she mean? Surely she wasn't going to throw cold tea in his eye or something like that?

Answer 1

no you use used tea bags. the first time i found out about it was 5 weeks ago. you just dab the corner of their eye with the cold used tea bag.

Answer 2

Tea bags can be used to treat swelling, but as other posters have pointed out, it does nothing for an eye injury, which can become a corneal ulcer.  Vets are able to stain the cornea to visualize scratches on the cornea that don't become visible to us until an ulcer has already produced a cloudy area, and then damage is already done.  I agree that no ointments should be applied, especially cortisone types, without vet exam.  the tea won't hurt it, but the vet should be called to examine the cornea whenever a runny eye occurs.  Possible eye injuries are something to be taken seriously.

Answer 3

Cold tea bags can reduce puffiness to eyelids.  They will have no effect on solving the cause of the problem - they will not clear up an infection, control pain or such.  So I have no idea what your instructor had in mind.

If the horse just has problems with watery eyes due to allergies or minor irritation, simply washing it several times a day with a warm damp cloth (wiping off the goo - not actually washing the eye) might be all it needs.  If the horse has a minor infection, antibiotic eye ointment twice a day for a few days will clear it up.  If there is something inbedded in the eye, if the eye has a cut or actual damage, if the tearduct is plugged or has problems, those things will need to be looked at by a vet.

Some horses, especially ones with alot of white around their eyes, tend to have watery eyes at the best of times.

Answer 4

What she meant was that she was going to soak some tea bags and put them on the horse's eyes, which does reduce swelling, but does nothing for a possible infection or injury or foreign object in the eye.  It doesn't hurt anything, but the horse should have his eyes flushed with saline solution (salt water) which should remove anything foreign, then neosporin EYE ointment applied.  That should take care of it...if it doesn't, then I would seek the advise of your vet.

Answer 5

Sounds like she is. Cold tea bags are good for taking down swelling and puffiness around the eye. However, any eye that is runny or has discharge should be handled carefully because of the risk of ulceration of the eye which can lead to blindness and scarring. Steroids should always be avoided when ulceration is suspected as they will make the problem much worse so before using any eye ointment, make sure steroid ointment is only used when there is no ulcer.

Answer 6

The tannins in regular tea can act as an astringent, which would dry things up a little.  Or, she may have meant chamomile tea, which is good for conjuntivitis and eye irritations (but should NOT be used in place of meds from the vet!)  Chamomile tea is very safe and soothes mucus membranes, I've used it on myself when my eyes were sore and itchy from allergies.  

Answer 7

Lol, this is an old old remedy.

Whenever we have a cat or dog with a sore eye the first reaction is usually a used teabag - preferably still slightly warm but squeezed out.

It sounds weird but it does work - reduces swelling, clears up discharge and just generally soothes.

I have always done this ( having learned it from my mother and, to be honest never even questioned it. Thanks to your question I Googled it  - here's what I found

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/ask...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t=1...

http://www.tipking.co.uk/tip/6644.html

So there you have it.

Answer 8

One of my old horses had a chronically impacted tear duct.  We routinely used cold tea bags to reduce the swelling so we could get the eye open to flush the tear duct.  This happened probably 3 or 4 times per year.

Answer 9

I wonder if a vet ever recomened that?  There may be other problms....