The market is awash with many products that claim to assist in removing puffiness and lightening the region below the eyes. Unfortunately, a good majority provide minimal results, sometimes none.

In this post, you will learn how to remove the under-eye bags forever -using at-home treatments.

Let’s dive right in;

1. Use tea bags

Tea isn’t just for drinking alone. You can use caffeinated tea bags for eye bags and dark circles as well.

The caffeine content has strong antioxidants believed to increase the rate of blood circulation on your skin. Even better, caffeinated teabags protect the eye regions from sun rays, thus slowing the aging process.

You can also use green tea for ant-inflammatory effects by following the steps below:

• Steep two tea bags for a minimum of 3 minutes.
• Leave the tea bags in the refrigerator for 20 minutes
• Squeeze the wet tea bags and apply the liquid beneath the eye.
• Leave the tea bags on for at least half an hour.

 2. Use a cold compress

Forget about the expensive creams. You can use a simple technique like a cold compressor to get rid of the dark circles under your eyes. 

Your blood vessels constrict as you apply the cold compress to the eye areas. As a result, you enjoy some temporary pain relief while ridding off eye bags.

While you can buy a cold compressor at any retail shop, using materials at your disposal can still work.

Here are a few DIY methods worth trying;

•  A cold teaspoon
•  Cool cucumber
•  Wet cloth
• Frozen veggies. 

Before you apply the cold compress, wrap it with a soft cloth to protect your skin. Otherwise, applying the cold compress directly can freeze your skin. 

The method provides immediate relief since you need to apply the compress for a few minutes only.

3. Clearing your sinuses using a neti pot

A neti pot can assist you in removing the under-eye bags and dark circles, as many victims testify. 

To create your neti pot, follow the steps below;

• Step 1: Pour 1/2 teaspoon of salt and one glass of water in a neti pot. Heat the saline solution to dissolve and let the temperature cool before you use it.
• Step 2: Position your head sideways over the sink. 
• Step 3: Place the spout of the pot in the upper nostril.
• Step 4:  Slowly pour the solution into the nostril until it drains.
• Step 5: Tilt your head in the opposite direction and repeat the same process.

Make sure you use distilled water to create the saline solution if you decide to try this method at home. Alternatively, you can boil tap water and use it when cool.

Neti pots are also available online in case you don’t want to create your own.

4. Stay hydrated

Do you know more than half of your body weight consist of water? Therefore,  lack of enough water in your body may be the reason for under-eye bags. Drinking enough water helps you to rectify such.

The recommended capacity to consume is 13 cups for men and 9 cups for ladies, every day. 

Don’t like watery fluids? It is exciting to let you know all fluids add up to your total daily consumption. Try flavored waters or even water mixed with fruits.

5. Apply retinol cream

You can opt to use cream but be keen on specific ingredients. Retinol creams contain specific compositions making them fit for certain skin problems, including

• Aging
•  Some cancers
•  Acne 
• Psoriasis.

How about Retinol creams on eye bags? The creams contain ingredients that improve collagen deficiency when you apply. Depending on the doctor`s prescription, you can apply it once a day, 30 minutes after washing your face.

If you are pregnant, avoid retinol creams.  

6. Use lightening products

Do you ever wonder what is unique about lightening products? Hydroquinone (the main ingredient in a skin-lightening cream) alters melanin production, responsible for dark coloring.

The products reduce the appearance of dark bags around the eyes.

Hydroquinone is present in several creams, gels, and lotions purchased over the counter. In case you need high concentration, consult a dermatologist. Otherwise, you`ll need to use the cream consistently for the desired results.

Take note! Hydroquinone can have side effects when misused. Keep your skin away from light while using the cream. Therefore, it is safe to apply the cream at night only.  

When To Consult a Doctor

There are many ways to prevent discoloration under the eyes, but these are just the most effective yet simple treatments.

Now that you have a few tricks you try at home; it’s time to pick your preferred method. Remember to do it repeatedly to get the best results. 

That said, if your symptoms persist or even get worse as time goes on,  see your doctor to get a long-term solution.

Monocular vision can be a consequence of a car accident or a health issue such as cataracts, trauma, glaucoma, etc. Or it could be something you were born with.

Whichever the cause, it makes life a little different than living with two eyes. According to Diane Whitaker, OD, chief of the vision rehabilitation service at the Duke Eye Center, it takes more work than people think to adjust to the loss.

“Sometimes people think that having one eye isn’t too different from having both,” she says. “A few people even think that your vision isn’t affected much.”

“However, this isn’t the case, especially for people who lose sight in one eye in adulthood. Studies show that adults who lose sight in one eye experience a substantial decline in their ability to track moving objects accurately, perceive depth, and judge distances.”

She also notes that people with one eye often rely on other senses to gather the information that people with both eyes collect effortlessly.

Driving is just one of the many tasks the person may have to perform differently than people with both eyes, often relying on other senses to assist the single eye.

What Does the Law Say?

People with monocular vision are allowed to drive with one eye in all 50 states of the US and the District of Columbia as long as they have a horizontal field of vision that meets specific criteria set out by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

First off, in nearly all states, the driver’s visual capabilities are assessed upon original licensure. Visual standards for licensing are 20/40 acuity with both eyes and a horizontal temporal field of at least 80 degrees vertically and 110 degrees horizontally from the center.

A re-examination is often needed if you’re referred to the transport department for re-examination. The DMV relies on physicians to inform them when they diagnose a patient with any medical or mental condition that may affect the person’s vision and ability to drive with one eye safely. These conditions often include;

• Lapse of consciousness
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Diabetes
• Dementia
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration

Is It Safe to Drive with Vision in Only One Eye?

Once the DMV receives a report from the physician indicating that the person may not be able to drive safely, they can ask for further medical information and, upon confirming the issue, immediately revoke or suspend the individual’s license. The DMV will also immediately notify the affected person of its decision in writing.

Here too, the driver must prove a 20/40 acuity with both eyes and a horizontal temporal field of at least 80 degrees vertically and 110 degrees horizontally from the center. If you have a corrected visual acuity of less than 20/40 in each eye, but at least 20/60 in one eye, then the DMV may refer you for a professional examination.

However, drivers who don’t have at least 20/60 visual acuity in at least one eve cannot be licensed to drive with one eye.

From this explanation, you can see that monocular individuals can still drive without a lot of restrictions as long as the existing eye has a 20/40 visual acuity. However, problems arise if the existing eye has an acuity less than 20/40. If the lone eye has an acuity of less than 20/60, you cannot be licensed to drive.

Precautions at an Individual Level

Besides state and federal laws, it’s also important that monocular individuals take personal steps to ensure their safety on the road.

As we’ve already established, seeing with only one eye limits your visual capabilities significantly. It impacts your horizontal visual field and also diminishes your peripheral vision. This can make it difficult to drive normally.

Experts recommend that you first and foremost ask your doctor weather you can drive with one eye. If the doctor recommends that you avoid driving for some time or quit driving altogether, then heed their call. They’re trying to save your life.

Can You Drive with One Eye?

Aside from the doctor, you may also want to pay your local motor vehicle department a visit for reevaluation. This is important for two reasons. First, a reevaluation will help you know whether the existing eye can allow you to drive safely. Secondly, it could save you from jail or penalties. In states such as Iowa and Missouri, failure to report vision issues for driving clearance constitutes a misdemeanor.

If both your doctor and the local motor vehicle department determine that you can drive on the existing eye, consider the following additional safety precautions;

• Keep a significant distance from the ca in front
• Avoid driving in torrential rain or heavy snow
• Always drive below the speed limit
• Only drive when you feel alert and well-rested
• Make blind spot mirrors your best friend

Be Safe Out There

Yes, you can drive with one eye. But that doesn’t mean you’re as good as someone with two eyes. For your safety, practice extra caution and keep out of compromising situations.

The short answer is – most likely. Although all screen settings will ultimately affect you in one way or another, dark mode carries a few advantages that benefit your vision.

For one, dark mode effectively cuts the glare associated with glare. It also reduces blue light. We’ll discuss how these two factors can affect your sight shortly. Dark mode also increases battery life and may also look cuter in some instances.

Unfortunately, dark mode isn’t without drawbacks. Indeed, for some people, the doctor may advise you to avoid dark mode. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Dark Mode?

Dark Mode (or dark theme) is a setting on most smartphone devices that displays an inverted color scheme where light-colored text and icons rest on a dark background.

Most mobile devices arrive in a default light mode where dark text and icons are superimposed on a white or light background. Dark mode is the opposite, i.e., light text and icons are superimposed on a dark background.

Since nearly all mobile devices default to light mode, you must change the settings if you wish to switch to dark mode. Once applied, dark mode takes effect for all functions, including mobile applications.

However, not all phones have a dark mode. Therefore, if you can’t find the setting on your phone, it’s possible that it doesn’t exist. Alternatively, it may exist in a different name.

Dark Mode and Blue Light

Whenever health experts mention the eyesight benefits of dark mode, they’re usually talking about the impact of blue light waves emitted from our device screens.

Blue light primarily comes from the sun. It’s what causes the blue sky. They are also what helps our brains to interpret day and night. Since blue light waves are stronger than other colors in the light spectrum, they help the brain tell it’s daylight.

Excess exposure to strong blue light can disrupt the circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin, the hormone tasked with signaling the brain that it’s bedtime.

Promoters of dark mode say that this is especially true in people who use their phones a lot right before bedtime. The standard light mode can make it more difficult to fall asleep as the signal to fall asleep is delayed as the blue light causes the brain to think that it’s still daytime. Dark mode rectified this problem by suppressing blue light. Thus, you get to sleep earlier and even longer.

Scientific studies about dark mode concerning blue light are inconclusive. However, available research findings support the theory that dark mode may affect sleep rhythm. Studies specifically on how the night shift setting on iPhone affects a person’s ability to fall asleep demonstrate that turn down the device’s brightness and simultaneously switching to dark mode can make one fall asleep faster.

These findings are consistent with recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). AAO recommends reducing glare and brightness by changing your screen settings in addition to changing the device to dark more or night mode.

Meanwhile, a different study in 2017 shows that playing games on a smartphone right before bed can prolong the time it takes to fall asleep compared to people who use blue light filtering software.

Other Benefits of Dark Mode

Besides blocking blue light, dark mode is also believed to reduce glare and as well as minimize eye strain.

Reduce glare

Glare refers to an irritating level of contrast between the task and the glare source. With respect to phones, it’s the irritating level of contrast between the screen and the surroundings due to excessive light. Studies show that glare can be harmful to your vision. It causes light to scatter inside the eyes and makes it difficult to see sharp images. The loss of contrast is worst in dark conditions.

Switching to dark mode is one of the proven ways to reduce glare. It reduces the light from the screen, thus minimizes the contrast between the screen and the rest of the room.

Minimizes eye strain

Although the jury is still out on whether dark mode truly reduces eye strain, a few things are evident. For instance, there’s no doubt that dark mode reduces eye strain in low-light conditions, such as when using the phone in the dark. It’s also a fact that the standard white background is harder to read and may cause more eye strain.

Therefore, it may be beneficial for your vision to use dark mode in low light conditions or when you don’t plan to read text on the phone for long periods.

Key Takeaway

Dark mode can be beneficial for your vision. Although light mode works better for reading long chunks of text on the phone, dark mode reduces is the better option for night use. It improves sleep quality and reduces eye strain. It also reduces glare.