Bryonia. [Bry]
**Bryonia may be thought of in rheumatism of the eyes, with violent pains shooting through the eyeball into the back of the head or up towards the vertex; worse by moving the eyes.
In rheumatic iritis it is the first remedy to be thought of, and it is quite as useful in syphilitic; in fact, in any form of iritis; the pains are sharp shooting in character, extending into the head and face, moving or exciting the eye aggravates the pain. A sensation as if the eyes were being forced out of the socket is also found under **Bryonia. It comes in after **Aconite or **Ferrum phosphoricum, which are the remedies for the first stage, especially for the sudden variety with burning and dryness. **Terebinth has rheumatic iritis with intense pains in the eyes and head, and the urinary symptoms are perhaps present. **Arnica is a useful remedy in rheumatic iritis, but it corresponds especially to the traumatic form; here **Hamamelis should be thought of, especially if there be haemorrhage into the iris or anterior chamber.
**Bryonia may be found useful in glaucoma. There is an increased tension of the eyeballs, lachrymation and photophobia. The eyeballs are sore; it is no useful when the external coats of the eyes are involved.
**Phosphorus has hyperaemia of the choroid and retina, hence is useful in retinitis pigmentosa and albuminurica; the symptom that objects look red leads to its consideration; also amblyopia and asthenopia are benefited by **Phosphorus. Cataract; also **Silicea, Conium, Natrum muriaticum, Magnesia carbonica and Causticum are used here. It is useful in glaucoma beginning with recurrent neuralgic attacks; it will diminish the pain and check the degeneration.
**Conium. The characteristic of this remedy in scrofulous ophthalmias is the intense photophobia, which is all out of proportion to the degree of inflammation, for little or no redness is present. This is due to an increased irritability of the nerves of the eye. Tears gush out on opening eyes. Dr. Talbot, of Boston, reports success with this remedy in cataract. It has many symptoms similar to acute cataract. Dr. Dudgeon thinks it useful in premature presbyopia, but of little use in adult presbyopia.
**Zincum has proved of service in pterygium with smarting stinging at the inner canthus and in opacities of the cornea following long-lasting attacks of inflammation.
**Ratanhia has also cured pterygium in both man and animals. In the provings is a sensation of a membrane growing over the eye. It is worthy of a careful trial.
**Causticum has a well-established reputation of checking acute cataract. Dr.A.B. Norton found it the most useful remedy.
Pulsatilla. [Puls]
The general symptoms of the drug will guide to **Pulsatilla as much as the local. As a remedy for styes it has no equal; it causes them to abort before pus has performed.
**Pulsatilla has a special affinity for the lids, inflaming them and increasing the Meibomian secretion agglutinates them. Twitching of the eyelids with dazzling sight. Conjunctivitis from cold or accompanying measles. Catarrhal ophthalmias, especially of the lids, with agglutination in the morning, profuse lachrymation and secretion of mucus worse evenings, especially call for this remedy. The mucus is thick, bland, profuse, yellow or yellowish green and more abundant in the open air. Ophthalmias neonatorum; too exclusive a reliance should not be placed on it here. In its action on the eye it resembles **Argentum nitricum; it reinforces the action of this remedy, stirs it up, spurs it on. **Pulsatilla is especially serviceable for the mild, passive, lymphatic temperament and locally profuse, thick, bland discharges and not much pain or photophobia.
**Argentum nitricum also has the profuse purulent discharge and swollen lids, swollen from being distended by a collection of pus in the eye. It corresponds well to very old cases of blepharitis with thick crusts, worse from heat of fire; after measles also. Granular conjunctivitis, with profuse mucopurulent discharge. Asthenopia from want of accommodation. Purulent ophthalmias. **Aurum metallicum. Vilas states that care should be taken not to give this remedy too low. Opacities and ulcers on the cornea with great congestion. It is more useful in the trachomatous form of conjunctivitis than is **Pulsatilla. Glaucoma. Scrofulous ophthalmias; great vascularity is characteristic, profuse lachrymation; sensitive eyes. Syphilitic iritis with soreness of the bones; also **Asafoetida, which has burning pains above the eyebrows. It is a wonderful remedy in iritis. There is much retinal congestion, with relief from heat and half sightedness, the upper half of objects being visible. **Muriatic acid has one lateral half cut off; also, **Lithium carbonicum and **Lycopodium. The pains of **Asafoetida are relieved by pressure on the eye; they are throbbing and burning.
**Lycopodium has ulceration, redness and styes, nocturnal agglutination and lachrymation by day. Blindness of right half of visual field is also a symptom of the remedy.
**Staphisagria has styes and nodosities on the lids; they do not suppurate, but become hard, and there is great itching of the margins of the lids.
Sulphur. [Sulph]
This remedy will be found especially useful in conjunctivitis from a foreign body, after **Aconite or **Ferrum phosphoricum; in scrofulous inflammation of the eyes, with tendency to congestion; the eyes are red and injected and there are splinter-like pains in them, worse in hot weather; it suits old chronic cases. Keratitis sub-acute conjunctivitis, particularly scrofulous cases with acrid discharge, hot tears flow out on opening eyes, also **Rhus toxicodendron.
**Calcarea carbonica. Out best remedy for scrofulous ophthalmias, corresponding to the worst cases; no remedy excels it in opacities and ulcerations of the cornea; the general symptoms will indicate the remedy. Discharge bland, cornea opaque and lids thickened. Conjunctivitis form getting wet, here resembling **Rhus toxicodendron. The eyes are so sensitive to the light that patient insists on thick covering, and lachrymation is constant. There are phlyctenules and pustules on the cornea and the lids are glued together. Fistula lachrymalis. Its effects are speedy and permanent in the characteristic **Calcarea child.
**Hepar sulphur has red, thick margins of lids with little points of pus appearing at the roots of the cilia; excessive soreness and sensitiveness of the lids is an indicating symptom. Vilas states that it will cure more cases of keratitis than any other remedy. It is invaluable in the suppurative form. It speedily absorbs hypopyon, and abscesses of the cornea require no other remedy. It has been called ” the king of remedies in ulceration of the cornea.” Acute symptoms, severe pains, worse by cold touch and bright light, hypopyon. The ulcers of **Silicea are sluggish.
oyle prefers **Ipecac to Conium in phylctenular keratitis in children with redness, photophobia and lachrymation.
Euphrasia. [Euphr]
One of our best remedies in eye affections; it has an inflammation of the lids, which appear red and injected, or perhaps ulcerated, with a profuse excoriating discharge, photophobia, cannot bear artificial light. Pustules near the border of the cornea. Reading or writing brings on pain in the eyes. Conjunctivitis, blisters and phlyctenules on the conjunctiva, blurred sight, acrid purulent discharge. Traumatic conjunctivitis. Rheumatic iritis, burning, stinging, shooting pains worse at night. Phlyctenular ophthalmias with excoriating discharge. It is especially useful in acute exacerbations of granular ophthalmia. **Euphrasia and Ruta are very old remedies in eye affections.
” Purge with Euphrasy and Rue
The visual nerve, for he had much to see.”
— Milton.
Blurring of vision, relieved by winking thus wiping the eye is especially characteristic of **Euphrasia. The 12X is a very useful strength.
**Kreosote has a blepharitis with a discharge of hot tears.
**Arsenicum. Here the great characteristic is burning, as if from fire, burning discharges relieved by warmth, intermittent pains, ulcerations of cornea, running a rapid course with a high degree of inflammation, are greatly benefited by this remedy according to Bayes. It is useful in obstinate cases of ophthalmia of he strumous variety when other remedies fail. Useful in glaucoma with periodical exacerbation of the pain which is intense and burning.
**Nitric acid is often indispensable in ophthalmia neonatorum, but its main use is in superficial ulcers of the cornea with splinter-like pains. It is also considered to be one of our best remedies in corneal opacities; also **Cannabis sativa must not be forgotten.
**Digitalis, according to Copeland, must not be forgotten in blepharitis, and Hahnemann mentions it in Meibomian inflammation.
**Sepia. In asthenopic conditions we have a number of remedies and among them is **Sepia, which especially suits asthenopia from uterine disease and sluggish, scrofulous, sub- acute cases. There is dryness of the eyes in the evening, the lids may be scaly and there will be drooping of the lids, worse in the morning and evening and in hot weather, relieved by cold bathing. There is blurring of slight and asthenopia from seminal losses, sudden vanishing of sight. It has also been used in trachoma and cataract. It is perhaps, the chief remedy in vernal conjunctivitis; the morning and evening aggravation is its great characteristic.
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.