Belladonna. [Bell]
**Belladonna is, perhaps, the most frequently indicated remedy in eye troubles. It is suitable to ophthalmias where there is great inflammation, dry, injected eyes, a total absence of lachrymation; in fact, the ***intensity and violence of its symptoms are its leading indications. In the early stage of acute conjunctivitis, iritis or retinitis, with sudden violent spasms and great ***intolerance of light and iritis, will call for **Belladonna, and here its photophobia will distinguish it from **Aconite. It is also useful in affections of the eyes from overuse or from use in poor light. It corresponds to iritis of traumatic origin, retinal congestion and retinitis, recent and acute, with bright sparks before the eyes. It is a remedy, along with **Lachesis and Crot., in retinal haemorrhage.
**Aconite is to be preferred in the beginning of a conjunctivitis, or in fact any acute inflammation of the eye, when of traumatic origin, as from a foreign body, the eyes feel full of sand, there is photophobia and painful inflammation of the eyes from exposure to cold, or from the action of acrid substances in the eyes, as from wounds or burns. It is also the first remedy in other forms of conjunctivitis.
**Glaucoma; here also **Opium should be consulted in this affection, as it gives us a very suggestive picture of glaucoma, as does also **Cocaine muriate. **Spigelia has violent, sharp-cutting eye pains, but it lacks the congestion of **Belladonna. It has a sensation that the eyeballs feel too large, which is also found under **Paris quadrifolia, which is a valuable remedy in certain forms of asthenopia with inability to fix the eyes on anything steadily; it has, too, the peculiar symptoms of a sensation as if a string were drawing the eye back into the head, as if the optic nerve were too short. It is of more use than any other remedy for the sharp shooting and sticking pains accompanying glaucoma. They are worse at night and on motion **Glonoine has protrusion of the eyes and troubles from exposure to bright light, heat, argand burners, etc., producing a retinal congestion. The elements of **Belladonna are: 1. Suddenness and acuteness of symptoms. 2. Great intolerance of light.
Rhus toxicodendron. [Rhus-t]
One of our most important ophthalmic remedies, and oedematous swellings, redness and acrid discharges mark the drug. It corresponds to chemosis and produces a great tendency to the formation of pus. It is of great use in scrofulous ophthalmias and is also specific in orbital cellulitis with great intolerance of light, so much so that the eyes cannot be opened even at night. The ears are hot and scalding and cause pimples on the parts bathed in them. A gush of tears on separating the lids is a trustworthy indication. The secretion is **rather scanty and there is much pain in the eyes and often spasmodic closure of the lids. It corresponds to conjunctivitis from getting wet, rheumatic iritis, with pain shooting from eyes into head, worse at night and in damp weather. Rheumatic ptosis calls for **Rhus. **Causticum, Gelsemium and Kalmia have stiffness of the lids. **Rhus is of marked use in suppurative iritis and is often beneficial after cataract extraction to control threatened iritis and formation of pus. **Apis has oedema of the conjunctiva, and may be a useful remedy in asthenopia, staphyloma and in strumous ophthalmias. **Nux and Sepia have drooping lids and **Terebinth and Thuja have a useful in iritis.
Mercurius. [Merc]
The various preparation of mercury are of a paramount use in eye affections. **Mercurius is of use where the general catarrhal symptoms are prominent. Blepharitis and conjunctivitis from cold or in those who work about fires as in foundry men; the pains are worse at night, the lids are thickened, the eyes discharge a thin muco-pus, making the cheeks sore and pimply; superficial ulcers appear on the cornea with a tendency to spread. It is one of our most important remedies in ophthalmias neonatorum, especially if due to syphilis. No form of iritis has been noticed in workers of mercury, and though the drug has been prescribed with success in syphilitic iritis, another preparation of mercury, **Mercurius corrosivus is almost specific. Therefore, do not give **Mercurius in iritis; it is an allopathic legacy of no value.
**Mercurius has also been found useful in styes, glandular affections and rheumatic troubles of the eyes. Where the glandular swellings are excessive **Mercurius biniodide may be chosen; **Mercurius protoiodide is especially of use in corneal ulcers. Deady regards this remedy as our best in this affection; the ulcerated surface looks as if it had been chipped out by the finger nail, and there is accompanying a yellow-coated tongue and a tendency to a rapid extension of the ulceration.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.