Would you put castor oil on your eyelids? What about DMSO?
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m always interested in natural remedies that conventional medicine tends to overlook. And when it comes to our eyes, there are some fascinating options that deserve a closer look.
DMSO is one of them.
Castor oil is another.
Both have been used for years, and both are suddenly getting renewed attention. So let’s look beyond the social media chatter and see what we actually know about these two intriguing natural eye remedies.
What Makes DMSO So Interesting for Eye Health?
DMSO, short for dimethyl sulfoxide, is certainly not new to me or to many integrative practitioners.
I’ve written about this remarkable sulfur compound before because of its ability to penetrate tissues, calm inflammation, and, perhaps most interestingly, act as a carrier for other substances.
That last quality is especially interesting when we’re talking about the eyes.
Getting nutrients where they’re needed inside the eye isn’t always easy. In the previously mentioned article, I wrote about a compounded eye-drop formula developed by integrative physician Dr. Robert Rowen that included 6.25 percent DMSO along with vitamin C and glutathione. In that formula, DMSO was used to help carry the other ingredients into deeper eye tissues. The preparation was available by prescription through a compounding pharmacy.
And researchers haven’t forgotten about DMSO either.
A review published in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics looked at decades of experimental and clinical work involving DMSO and concluded that its potential in eye care deserves further study.
There’s another lesson buried in the research that I think is especially important.
With DMSO, more isn’t necessarily better.
In one study, a 30 percent DMSO solution showed an anti-inflammatory effect in the eye. Yet at much stronger concentrations, researchers saw the opposite response.
That’s why concentration and formulation matter.
The DMSO liquids, gels, creams, and roll-ons I recommend for topical use are not the same thing as a professionally formulated ophthalmic preparation. I would never suggest simply taking a bottle of topical DMSO and putting it into your eyes.
Castor Oil Isn’t Just an Internet Trend
Now let’s talk about another old-fashioned remedy that’s having quite a comeback: castor oil.
Long before TikTok and Instagram discovered it, castor oil had a place in traditional natural care. I’ve recommended cold-pressed organic castor oil myself for the eyelashes and eyebrows.
But what about the eyes?
Here’s where things get interesting.
In one randomized clinical trial, 26 people with blepharitis, an irritating inflammation of the eyelids that can cause redness, itching, and crusting, applied 100 percent cold-pressed castor oil to the eyelids of one eye twice daily.
Four weeks later, symptoms had eased, and there was less thickening, crusting, and matting around the lashes. No adverse reactions were reported during the study.
That’s a long way from an Internet testimonial.
Could Castor Oil Help Dry, Irritated Eyes?
There’s more.
Researchers have studied specially formulated castor-oil eye drops for meibomian gland dysfunction, a common culprit behind dry eye.
Along the rim of your eyelids are tiny glands that release the oils your tears need to keep moisture from evaporating too quickly. When those glands become clogged or sluggish, your eyes can start feeling dry, scratchy, burning, or irritated.
In a randomized, double-masked placebo-controlled trial, researchers tested eye drops containing 2 percent castor oil in people with this problem. The castor-oil preparation improved symptoms as well as several measurements related to tear quality.
A later review concluded that castor oil shows potential for blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and dry eye.
And there’s an even newer piece to the puzzle.
A 2025 laboratory study found that castor oil reduced the survival of Demodex mites, microscopic creatures that can take up residence around our eyelashes and contribute to some cases of blepharitis.
It’s early research, but it gives us one more reason to keep an eye on castor oil.
What About Castor Oil and Cataracts?
This is probably the question many of you really want answered.
Search online and you’ll find plenty of people who swear that applying castor oil around the eyes has helped their cataracts.
I’m certainly open to natural approaches to cataracts. In fact, I’ve been writing about nutritional and integrative approaches to cataracts for years.
But castor oil specifically is where the research hasn’t caught up with the testimonials.
The human studies we’ve just discussed involve the eyelids, tear film, and oil-producing glands. They don’t establish that castor oil can dissolve or reverse a cataract inside the lens of the eye.
That doesn’t mean I’m dismissing what people say they’ve experienced. It simply means we can’t point to good human clinical trials yet and say that castor oil has been proven to reverse cataracts.
And that’s an important distinction.
“On” Your Eyes Isn’t the Same as “In” Your Eyes
This is one point I don’t want anyone to miss.
Applying castor oil to closed eyelids is very different from putting something directly into the eye.
The same goes for DMSO.
A professionally compounded eye preparation containing a carefully measured amount of DMSO is NOT interchangeable with a bottle of DMSO intended for topical use on the skin.
So please don’t turn an intriguing piece of research into a do-it-yourself chemistry experiment.
Don’t Forget to Feed Your Eyes
I’ve been saying this for years: healthy vision begins with nutrition.
Your eyes have an enormous need for antioxidant protection, which is why I emphasize leafy greens, colorful vegetables, quality protein, healthy fats, and nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamins A, C, and E, and omega-3 fats.
Omega-3s have been important to your eyes since before you were born, and they continue to play a role in healthy vision throughout life. Research has also looked at omega-3 supplements for dry eye, with some studies finding improvements in tear quality and dry-eye symptoms. That’s one reason I’m such a fan of UNI KEY Health’s Super-EPA, which provides concentrated EPA and DHA. A single daily dose of Omega-3 from supplements like Super-EPA increased the quality and quantity of tears and reduced the symptoms of dry eye in as little as three weeks.
I’ve also long looked at eye health through the lens of liver health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver and eyes have a particularly important connection, and I believe supporting the liver belongs in any whole-body approach to healthy vision. That’s where UNI KEY’s Liver-Lovin’ Formula can be of enormous help.
And don’t overlook the basics. Protect your eyes from excessive UV exposure. Keep blood sugar in check. Don’t smoke. Give your eyes a break from screens. Move your body to keep healthy circulation going. And get your eyes examined regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Castor Oil Help Eyelashes Grow?
Castor oil has long been one of my favorite natural beauty tricks for conditioning eyelashes and eyebrows, which may help them look fuller and healthier.
This is actually one of my long-time favorite beauty tricks. Before bed, dab a small amount of pure castor oil onto your brows or lashes. Its naturally rich fatty acids help moisturize and condition those delicate hairs, lock in hydration, and reduce breakage, helping lashes and brows look longer, stronger, fuller, and more lush.
One important reminder: always choose a clean, organic castor oil, and use only a tiny amount. We’re talking about the area closest to your eyes, so purity and careful application matter.
Can castor oil help dry eyes?
There’s some intriguing research. Cold-pressed castor oil applied around the eyelids has been studied for blepharitis, while specially formulated castor-oil eye drops have been investigated for meibomian gland dysfunction. Those studies don’t mean that ordinary bottled castor oil should be used as homemade eye drops.
Can castor oil reverse cataracts?
We have plenty of testimonials, but I haven’t found good human clinical trials showing that castor oil itself reverses cataracts. That’s different from saying natural approaches to cataracts aren’t worth exploring.
Can DMSO be used for eye health?
DMSO has a long history of investigation in ophthalmology, and I’ve previously written about a professionally compounded eye formula that contained a small amount of DMSO along with vitamin C and glutathione. The key words are professionally compounded. Topical DMSO products aren’t automatically suitable for putting directly into your eyes.
What else can I do naturally for my eyes?
Start by nourishing them. Omega-3 fats, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and other antioxidants all have important roles in eye health. And don’t forget the bigger picture: blood sugar, circulation, liver health, UV exposure, smoking, and even how much time you spend staring at a screen all matter.
The Bottom Line
One of the things I’ve learned after decades in nutrition is that old remedies shouldn’t automatically be confused with outdated remedies.
Sometimes science circles back and begins asking questions natural practitioners have been asking for years.
That’s what makes DMSO and castor oil so fascinating to me.
DMSO has a remarkable history and some very intriguing applications in eye health. Castor oil, meanwhile, now has human research behind some uses around the eyelids and ocular surface that might surprise people who thought it was nothing more than another social media fad.
There’s still plenty we don’t know. But that’s not a reason to stop asking questions.
Your eyes deserve the same whole-body, nutrition-first approach you give the rest of your health. And sometimes an old-fashioned remedy is worth another look.
Where can you find trusted brands of castor oil and DMSO?
DMSO Liquid
DMSO Roll-On
DMSO Cream
DMSO Gel
My favorite castor oil brands are included in my Fullscript dispensary. Just sign in and type “castor oil” into the search bar.
P.S. Want to learn more about DMSO?
DMSO: The Remedy That Medicine Tried to Bury
The Arthritis Remedy Few Doctors Talk About: Why DMSO Is Making a Comeback
For more articles about castor oil, see:
My Underarm Castor Oil Trick If Your Lymphatic Drainage Pathways Aren’t Flowing
Cleopatra’s Classic Castor Oil Beauty Hack
Resources Include:
Hoang C, Nguyen AK, Nguyen TQ, et al. Application of Dimethyl Sulfoxide as a Therapeutic Agent and Drug Vehicle for Eye Diseases. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2021;37(8):441-451. doi:10.1089/jop.2021.0043. PMID: 34314611.
Hanna C, Fraunfelder FT, Meyer SM. Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on ocular inflammation. Ann Ophthalmol. 1977;9(1):61-65. PMID: 319730.
Muntz A, Sandford E, Claassen M, et al. Randomized trial of topical periocular castor oil treatment for blepharitis. Ocul Surf. 2021;19:145-150. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2020.05.007. PMID: 32422285.
Goto E, Shimazaki J, Monden Y, et al. Low-concentration homogenized castor oil eye drops for noninflamed obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction. Ophthalmology. 2002;109(11):2030-2035. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(02)01262-9. PMID: 12414410.
Sandford EC, Muntz A, Craig JP. Therapeutic potential of castor oil in managing blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye. Clin Exp Optom. 2021;104(3):315-322. doi:10.1111/cxo.13148. PMID: 33037703.
Jennings CJ, Cooper JM, Bandamwar K, Bitton E, Craig JP. Anti-Demodex activity of castor oil confirmed in an ex vivo study. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2025;48(6):102471. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2025.102471. PMID: 40617731.