KALMIA LATIFOLIA.
Sensation of stiffness in the muscles around the eyes and of the eyelids. Pain in the eyes, which makes it painful to turn them. Glimmering before the eyes. Ptosis with supra-orbital neuralgia. Pain over right eye, giddiness, eyes weak and watery.
Clinical.-From its action upon the muscles we are led to give it in asthenopia and with good results, especially if there is present a stiff drawing sensation in the muscles upon moving the eyes.
Sclero choroiditis anterior, in which the sclera was inflamed, vitreous perfectly filled with exudation and glimmering of light before the eye, especially on reading with the other, was cured by this drug.-T.F.A.
Kalmia was prescribed in a case of retinitis albuminurica occurring during pregnancy, on account of the characteristic pains in the back; it was continued for a long time, during which the white patches gradually became absorbed and recovery took place.-T.F.A.
Dr. Hunt reports several cases of rheumatic iritis with sharp pain, boring in the eye, ciliary injection and tenderness of the eye, in rheumatic subjects, promptly relieved by this drug.
Dr. Boyle cured a case of tenonitis with Kalmia in which the lids were red and swollen, chemosis and pain on movement and pressure of the eye. Also several cases of scleritis with syphilitic history after Kali iod. had failed.
KREOSOTUM.
Burning and redness of the conjunctiva. Smarting in the eyes. The tears are acrid like salt water. Chronic swelling of the eyelids. Twitching of lids.
Clinical.-Kreosote has been of service in acute aggravations of chronic keratitis, in which there was excessive, hot, smarting lachrymation; also in blenorrhoea of the conjunctiva, with moderately profuse discharge and much smarting in the eyes.- T.F.A.
LACHESIS.
Subjective.-The eyes feel stiff. Aching of the eyes, especially of the left. A sticking, drawing pain in the right eye extending up to the vertex. Pressure in the eyes. Stitches as from knives in the eyes, coming from the head. Pains near the eyes.
Vision.-Dimness of vision; much black flickering before the eyes, that seems very near; it frequently makes reading difficult. A fog before the eyes; in the evening a bluish-gray ring, about six inches in diameter, around the light. Eyes sensitive to light. Flickering before the eyes. Flickering and jerking in the right eye, with violent congestion to the head. Flickering before the eyes; as from threads, or rays of the sun. Flickering in peculiar angular zigzag figures, with congestion to the head and headache. A beautiful bright blue ring about the light that was beautifully filled with fiery rays.
Clinical.-A case of orbital cellulitis, following an operation for strabismus, was effectually and rapidly cured under this remedy. The symptoms were a marked protrusion of the eye and chemosis, with a purulent discharge and sloughing at the point of tenotomy, with a black spot in the centre of the slough; the retina was hazy and congested.-T. F. A.
Lachesis is sometimes useful in phlyctenular keratitis, especially the chronic recurrent form in which the surface of the cornea may be ulcerated, with moderate redness of the eye. The chief characteristic, however, has been the marked photophobia, which is always worse in the morning and after sleeping. The various pains in the eyes and head are also subject to the same aggravation.
As already referred to in the article upon Crot., intra- ocular haemorrhages will often call for Lachesis. Many cases might be given to illustrate its usefulness in this respect, but little would be gained by so doing, for the eye indications, with the exception of the haemorrhages, have usually been unimportant or absent altogether. It may be said, however, that haemorrhages into the anterior chamber, into the vitreous, into the retina and into the choroid, whether of spontaneous origin or dependent upon various diseased conditions, have all been seen to speedily disappear under the use of this remedy. The general indications are of more value in the selection of this drug than those relating only to the eye. The brilliant results often observed from its employment in retinitis apoplectica do not seem to be confined to the absorption of the haemorrhages as it also appears to control the inflammatory symptoms and diminish the tendency to retinal extravasations.
Is of value in relieving asthenopic symptoms.
LACTIC ACID.
Clinical.-Hyperaesthesia of the retina, with steady aching pain in and behind the eyeball, was quickly relieved by a few doses of Lactic acid.-T.F.A.
LEDUM PALUSTRE.
A pressure (or dull pain) behind the eyeball as if it would be forced out. Photophobia. Dilated pupils. Acrid lachrymation and burning of lids.
Clinical.-Ledum has proved chiefly beneficial in contusions or wounds of the eye and lids, especially if accompanied by extravasations of blood.
In a case of complete ptosis (right eye) from an injury by a piece of wood striking the eye, in which there was ecchymosis of the lids and conjunctiva, a complete restoration of power to the upper lid took place in five days under Ledum externally and internally, after Arnica had been used for two days with no benefit.
Ecchymoses of the conjunctiva, either of traumatic or spontaneous origin, are often quickly absorbed by the use of this remedy, and in many cases more promptly than when our usual remedies, Arnica or Hamamelis, are employed.
A case of haemorrhage into the anterior chamber, after an iridectomy, which had resisted both Hamamelis and Arnica for two weeks, was absorbed in four days under this drug, used externally and internally.
It is the remedy in asthenopia, if there is dull pain behind the eyeball, as if it would be forced out.
LILIUM TIGRINUM.
Lachrymation. Burning feeling in the eyes after reading or writing; eyes feel very weak. Blurred sight with heat in the eyelids and eyes, extending back into head. Redness of edges of eyelids, and hot, sandy feeling in eyes on using at near work.
Clinical.-Favorable results have been obtained from Lilium in the relief of so-called asthenopic symptoms, which were in all probability dependent upon spasm of the accommodation.
LITHIUM CARBONICUM.
Eyes pained during and after reading, as if dry. Uncertainty of vision and an entire vanishing of the right half of whatever she looked at; or if two short words occurred in succession, that on the right hand was invisible. Pain and heaviness over brows, worse toward evening.
Clinical.-A brilliant cure of hemiopia with Lithium 30 is reported by Dr. Dunham, in which only the left half of an object was visible with the right eye and nothing at all with the left. In two or three other cases of hemiopia, in which only the left half of object was visible, no benefit was derived from this remedy.
It may be of service in some cases of asthenopia.
LYCOPODIUM.
Objective.-Swelling and painfulness of the lids, with nightly agglutination of the canthi. Styes on the lids, toward the inner canthus. Ulceration and redness of the eyelids; the water which flows from the eye smarts and bites the cheek. Inflammation of the eyes, with itching in both canthi, redness and swelling of the lids of the right eye; distressing pain, as if they were dry, with nightly agglutination.
Subjective.-Eyelids dry, with smarting pain; they cannot be opened, even on rubbing, in the morning. Smarting and burning of the lids. Dryness of the eyes in the evening and at night. Eyes dry and dim. Eyes dry, difficult to open, with smarting pain, in the morning. Severe burning and itching in the eyes. Pressive pain in the eyes, as if dust were in them. Stitches in the eyes. Itching in the canthi.
Vision.-Vision weak, is unable to distinguish small objects as well as formerly. The evening light blinds him very much; he cannot see anything upon the table. A veil and flickering before the eyes after the afternoon naps. Hemiopia: he sees only the left half of an object; same with one eye as with both, but worse with the right. Sensitiveness of the eye to daylight. Floating black spots before the eyes at a short distance.
Clinical.-External diseases of the eye are not commonly amenable to this drug, as its chief remedial power has been exhibited in the disorders of nutrition and function of the deep seated structures.
Ciliary blepharitis and hordeola occasionally call for the use of Lycopodium.
The progress of cataract has been arrested by this remedy when prescribed for chronic dyspeptic symptoms.-T. F. A.
Opacities of the vitreous have occasionally been known to disappear during the administration of Lyco.
Hemiopia, in which the right half of the field of vision was obscured, has been improved.
In Hemeralopia its great value as an eye remedy becomes apparent, for no other drug in our Materia Medica has cured such a large number of cases as Lyco. There seems to be marked indication for its use, with the exception of the night blindness coming on in the early morning, though in some instances it was found that the patient could see better at a distance than near at hand, yet in other cases this indication was wanting, so it cannot be considered important. If black spots floating before the eyes accompany the night blindness this drug is particularly called for.
Professor of Ophthalmology in the College of the New York Ophthalmic Hospital; Surgeon to the New York Ophthalmic Hospital. Visiting Oculist to the Laura Franklin Free Hospital for Children; Ex-President American Homoeopathic Ophthalmological, Otological and Laryngological Society. First Vice-President American Institute of Homoeopathy : President Homoeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York ; Editor Homoeopathic Eye. Ear and Throat Journal : Associate Editor. Department of Ophthalmology, North American Journal of Homoeopathy, etc.