We all must have heard about the laxative benefits of castor oil from our grandparents, and it has been an essential part of our childhood. But did you know castor oil has beneficial properties for eye health? Yes! The beneficial effects of castor oil for the eyes come from powerful fatty acids and other antioxidants. But it is safer to consult an ophthalmologist to procure sterile and chemical-free castor oil products as per your eye issue.

In this article, the beneficial effects of castor oil on the eyes have been discussed in detail. Read on!

What is Castor Oil?:

Castor oil is commonly grown in Western India, Africa, and South America and is produced from castor beans. In terms of medicinal use, many know castor oil as a laxative taken by the spoonful. However, to deliver medications, pharmaceutical manufacturers use castor oil as a mix-in.

The topical use of castor oil helps treat blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelid has been published in the journal of the Ocular Surface (1).

Benefits of Castor Oil for Eyes:

We have explained in great detail the castor oil benefits for the eyes. Let us go through the following section to know how Castor oil helps tackle several eye conditions.

1. Treating Dry Eyes:

Several over-the-counter eye drops that improve dry eyes have castor oil as the main ingredient. This oil helps provide more comfort and less sensitivity by keeping them lubricated for longer and keeping your tears from getting evaporated.

Several visual complications, redness, eye irritation can result from dry eyes, which can be highly uncomfortable. It is said that castor oil helps improve dry eyes by improving the stability of the tear film and increasing the lipid layer, according to studies (2).

[Read: Great Health Benefits of Castor Oil]

2. Reduce Irritation and Inflammation of Eyes:

Blepharitis is a condition that leads to eyelid inflammation. According to research, you can treat this disease by using castor oil.In addition, you can reduce inflammation and improve the condition by directly applying castor oil to the eyelid(3).