When a headache makes your eyes feel tired, hot, uncomfortable, or mildly irritated, a cool, clean cloth can provide soothing relief. Cooling the area around the eyes may help you relax and reduce the feeling of eye strain.
How to do it:
- Take a clean, soft cotton cloth and soak it in cool, clean water.
- Gently squeeze out the extra water so the cloth is damp, not dripping.
- Sit or lie down in a comfortable, quiet place.
- Close your eyes gently and place the cool cloth over your closed eyelids.
- Keep it there for about 5–10 minutes.
- Remove the cloth and allow your eyes to rest for a few minutes.
- You can repeat this several times a day if it feels comfortable. Use a clean cloth each time.
Avoid pressing firmly on your eyes or rubbing them. Do not put ice directly on your eyelids, because extreme cold can irritate or injure the delicate skin around the eyes.
If eye redness or pain is severe, keeps getting worse, or is accompanied by blurred or reduced vision, severe headache, vomiting, marked swelling, or strong sensitivity to light, seek medical attention promptly.