The iodide of sulphur has occasionally been employed in ophthalmic diseases with marked success, especially in strumous subjects with enlarged glands.
SYPHILINUM.
Clinical.-Very marked success has attended the use of this remedy in some cases of chronic recurrent phlyctenular inflammation of the cornea. When indicated, successive crops of phlyctenules and abrasions of the epithelial layer of the cornea will be found; the photophobia will be intense and the lachrymation profuse; the redness and pain will vary, but will be usually well marked. It is indicated in delicate, scrofulous children, especially if any trace of hereditary syphilis can be discovered.
TABACUM.
Pains behind the eyeball.
Clinical.-The following case, consequent upon the use of tobacco, may prove interesting: The patient was amblyopic, vision 20/100, refraction normal, divergence of one and a half lines behind a screen, diplopia in the distance. On leaving off tobacco for a time he improved and saw single, but within ten minutes after returning to its use the vision became dim, black spots floated before the eyes and he saw double. Stimulants only aggravated the difficulty.
(See cure of tobacco amaurosis under Nux v.)
TELLURIUM.
Clinical.-Tellurium has proved successful in conjunctivitis pustulosa, with eczema impetiginoides on the lids and much purulent discharge from the eyes; also an offensive discharge from the ear, to which the child was subject.
It is probably more often indicated in scrofulous ophthalmia than we are now led to suppose.
The offensive otorrhoea, smelling like fish-brine, is an important concomitant symptom.
TEREBINTHINA.
Clinical.-In a comparatively rare form of ciliary neuralgia, with acute conjunctivitis, Terebinth is the remedy most frequently indicated. The injection of the conjunctiva is variable, sometimes being excessive and again very moderate, amounting to hardly more than a simple hyperaemia, but at no time commensurate with the severity of the pain. The redness is usually dark, especially in the later stages, though during the height of the inflammation may be bright. There may be chemosis and even infiltration into the cellular tissue of the orbit. Deep ciliary injection, swelling of the lids, photophobia and lachrymation may be present. The pupil is contracted, but dilates regularly, though slowly, under Atropine. The tension is changeable even within a short time, though is more frequently diminished than otherwise. The eyeball is sensitive to touch. The pain is excessive and always present: varies in character from a dull, “grumbling,” aching, beating, sore pain to a severe, sharp, darting pain seeming as if it would almost drive the patient crazy; not only involves the eyeball, but is especially severe over and around the eye, extending through to occiput on corresponding side of the head often following the course of the supra-orbital nerve, is always worse at night, and is frequently accompanied by severe paroxysms, particularly in the early morning hours (1 to 3 A.M.). The corresponding side of the face is flushed. General disturbances will accompany the above, especially scanty and high-colored urine, with pain in the back, which is always present when Terebinth is indicated. (Compare Amyl nitrite.)
A man, about 40 years of age, had been suffering from episcleritis in the left eye for over three weeks. the eye was very red, especially at inner side of the cornea, where there was a hard, bluish-red elevation. The pain in the eye and corresponding side of the head was intense day and night. the pupil reacted well. The urine was very dark. Atropine and various remedies of both schools had failed to relieve. Terebinth 1 relieved the pain in a few hours and a complete cure resulted in less than a week.
This remedy, first employed in iritis by Dr. Liebold, has proved a valuable remedy, especially in rheumatic iritis. The pains will be intense and the characteristic urinary symptoms- frequent desire, pressure and pain in the kidneys, burning in the urethra and dark urine-will be present. Also called for it there is a suppress of habitual perspiration of the feet.
THUJA.
Objective-Agglutination of the lids at night. Pimple on the margin of lower lid. Stye on the right eye. The white of the eye is very much inflamed and red.
Weak eye, pressure as from the fine sand in them.
Subjective-Tearing pain in the left eyebrow, disappearing after touch. Feeling as if the eyelids were swollen and a foreign body were in the eye. Burning and stinging in the edges of the of the eyelids in the evening. Feeling of dryness in the eyes. Feeling of sand in the eyes. Burning and stinging in both eyes and eyelids, with injection of the cornea. Pressure in the eyes. A painful stitch through the centre of the left eye, commencing in the centre of the brain.
Vision-Dimness of vision like a mist before the eyes and pressure in them as if they would be pressed out of the head or as if they were swollen.. Dimness of vision in the open air, like a veil, for near and distant objects, with confusion of the head for half an hour. The vision seems dim, with a feeling as if something were before the eyes. Muscae volitantes. Great flickering before the eyes. Seeing of a luminous disc shining like a firefly.
Clinical-No remedy is more frequently indicated in tarsal tumors than Thuja, especially for verucae and tumors that resemble small condylomata, though it is also useful in other varieties, not only in preventing their return after removal by the knife, but in promoting their absorption without the employment of instrumental means. This can sometimes be done by simply using the drug internally, though it usually seems to act more rapidly if employed in the tincture externally at the same time.
“In two cases of what appeared undoubted epithelioma of the left lower eyelid, one of the eight months’ the other three years’ standing, there was complete recovery under Thuja locally and internally”-C.M.THOMAS.
Conjunctivitis trachomatosa, in which the granulations are large, like warts or blisters, with burning in the lids and eyes, worse at night, photophobia by day and suffusion of the eye with tears, would lead us to give Thuja.
In chronic cases of large phlyctenules of the conjunctiva, which are very slow in progress, unyielding to treatment and which decidedly involve the sub-conjunctival tissue, Thuja will often be found to be the remedy.
It has occasionally be of service in inflammations of the cornea, especially in ulcerations of a syphilitic origin, even if hypopyon is present.
The action of Thuja upon the sclera is very marked indeed; probably more so than any other drug. It has been employed with excellent success in episcleritis, scleritis, sclero-choroiditis ant. and commencing scleral staphyloma, even when no characteristic indications were present. There will, however, usually be sensitiveness of the eyeball to touch and aching pain in and over the eye, with some heat.
For syphilitic iritis, with gummata on the iris, it is a grand remedy. The pains are usually severe, sharp and sticking in the eye, worse at night, with much heat above and around the eye, or there may be a pain in the left frontal eminence as if a nail were being driven in; in some cases the pain is described as a dull aching in the eye and sometimes seems relieved in the open air.
The following symptom of vision was relieved by Thuja: “Flames of light before the eyes, mostly yellow.” T.F.A.
VERATRUM VIRIDE.
Subjective-Aching in the upper part of the right orbit. Full, pressing, heavy feeling in the eyes, with slight headache. Severe shooting suddenly stopping pain in the left eye. Pupils dilated.
Vision-Dimness of sight. Cannot walk; if I attempt it I am very faint and completely blind. Photophobia and vertigo, relieved by closing eyes and resting head. If I assumed the erect position for even a minute, dimness of sight and partial syncope supervened. Unsteady vision.
Clinical-In erysipelatous inflammation of the lids, face and head, especially if of traumatic origin, veratrum viride, as recommended by Dr. Liebold, has proved of great value. It is usually used locally as well as internally.
From the experience of Dr. D.J. McGuire it seems that Veratrum viride must be an important remedy in a certain class of ocular diseases dependent upon menstrual irregularities.
The doctor also says: “My experience with the remedy has been quite extended, and while I have founds its principal sphere of usefulness in disease of the fundus oculi to be confined to females, it has not been entirely so. In one case of white atrophy of the disc, in a gentleman who had gone through a severe business excitement, the head pains were always promptly relieved by it. In all cases, in which the fundus disease, whether of the choroid, retina or disc, could be traced to vaso- motor influence, the results have been most satisfactory.” ZINCUM.
Objective-Agglutination of the inner canthus in the morning, with a pressing sore feeling. Inflammation and redness of the conjunctiva of the right eye; suppuration in the inner canthus; with frequent lachrymation; even the upper lid, toward the inner canthus, is red and swollen. during the menses inflammation of the eyes.
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.