HOMOEOPATHY
FOR AVOIDING BLINDNESS IN OLD AGE.
BE
EARLY TO DIAGNOSE CATARACT
A cataract is a
clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts
occur when the eye's natural lens becomes cloudy, causing vision loss. It is
the most common cause of blindness and is conventionally treated with surgery.
Visual loss occurs because opacification of the lens obstructs light from
passing and being focused on to the retina at the back of the eye.
The lens is a
clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina.
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal
eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches
the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.
It is most
commonly due to biological aging, but there are a wide variety of other causes.
They are most common in people over 40 and are the main cause of blindness
worldwide, according to All About Vision. Over time, yellow-brown pigment is
deposited within the lens and this, together with disruption of the normal
architecture of the lens fibers, leads to reduced transmission of light, which
in turn leads to visual problems. Those with cataracts commonly experience
difficulty in appreciating colors and changes in contrast, driving, reading,
recognizing faces, and coping with glare from bright lights. Most cataracts
develop slowly and don't disturb eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts
will eventually interfere with vision.
Types of Cataract
Most cataracts
are related to aging, there are other types of cataract:
1. Secondary
cataract. Cataracts can form after surgery for other eye problems, such as
glaucoma. Cataracts also can develop in people who have other health problems, such
as diabetes. Cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.
2. Traumatic
cataract. Cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later.
3. Congenital
cataract. Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood,
often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect
vision. If they do, the lenses may need to be removed.
4. Radiation
cataract. Cataracts can develop after exposure to some types of radiation.
Causes and Risk Factors
The lens lies
behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light
onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens
also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and
far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged
in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and let’s light pass through it.
But as we age,
some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the
lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud
more of the lens, making it harder to see. Researchers suspect that there are
several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes. Or, it may be that
the protein in the lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes over the
years.
Age-related cataracts and its way of progress
The term
"age-related" is a little misleading. You don't have to be a senior
citizen to get this type of cataract. In fact, people can have an age-related
cataract in their 40s and 50s. But during middle age, most cataracts are small
and do not affect vision. It is after age 60 that most cataracts steal vision.
Age-related cataracts can affect our vision in two ways:
1.
Clumps
of protein reduce the sharpness of the image reaching the retina. The lens
consists mostly of water and protein. When the protein clumps up, it clouds the
lens and reduces the light that reaches the retina. The clouding may become severe
enough to cause blurred vision. Most age-related cataracts develop from protein
clumping. When a cataract is small, the cloudiness affects only a small part of
the lens. we may not notice any changes in our vision. Cataracts tend to
"grow" slowly, so vision gets worse gradually. Over time, the cloudy
area in the lens may get larger, and the cataract may increase in size. Seeing
may become more difficult, our vision may get duller or blurrier.
2.
The
clear lens slowly changes to a yellowish/brownish color, adding a brownish tint
to vision. As the clear lens slowly colors with age, your vision gradually may
acquire a brownish shade. At first, the amount of tinting may be small and may
not cause a vision problem. Over time, increased tinting may make it more
difficult to read and perform other routine activities. This gradual change in
the amount of tinting does not affect the sharpness of the image transmitted to
the retina. If advanced lens discoloration process, we may not be able to
identify blues and purples. You may be wearing what you believe to be a pair of
black socks, only to find out from friends that you are wearing purple socks.
The risk of
cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include:
·
Certain
diseases such as diabetes.
·
Personal
behavior such as smoking and alcohol use.
·
The
environment such as prolonged exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light,
specifically UV-B, has been shown to cause cataracts and there is some evidence
that sunglasses worn at an early age can slow its development in later life.
·
The
presence of cataracts in childhood or early life can occasionally be due to a
particular syndrome.
·
The
skin and the lens have the same embryological origin and can be affected by
similar diseases. Those with Atopic dermatitis and Eczema will occasionally
develop shield ulcers cataracts. Ichthyosis is an autosomal recessive disorder
associated with cuneiform cataracts and nuclear sclerosis. Basal-cell nevus and
Pemphigus have similar associations.
·
Some
drugs, such as corticosteroids, can induce cataract development.
Clinical Features
The most common
symptoms of a cataract are:
·
Cloudy
or blurry vision.
·
Colors
seem faded.
·
Glare.
Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear
around
lights.
·
Poor
night vision.
·
Double
vision or multiple images in one eye. (This symptom may clear as the
cataract
gets larger.)
·
Frequent
prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
·
These
symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms,
check with eye care professional early.
Management
Home Remedies
1.
Mix
1 cup of rose petals, 4 tbsp. of raspberry leaves in 4 cups of boiling water. Let
the ingredients rest for 30 minutes, strain and use as eye wash.
2.
Mix
one teaspoon of rosewater(gulabjal) with one teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Add
10 drops of this to the eyes. This remedy provides benefit if cataract is in
the starting stage.
3.
Use
Eyebright herb in drops is excellent for cataracts, this plant can be use
internally and is much more effective than commercial eye drops and safer.
4.
Eat
spinach and take Lutein or spinach extract Contains carotenoid needed for
retina and eye tissue sometimes reversing cataracts.
5.
Vitamin
A is very necessary for a healthy vision.
6.
Dusty
miller used to dissolve cataracts and corneal opacities, if used in the early
stages of the disease.
7.
Take
Ginkgo biloba increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the eye and it
clears toxins.
8.
Eat
lots of green vegetables, specially spinach, kale and berries, blueberries,
blackberries, cherries and fruits rich in Vitamin C and E.
9.
Avoid
dairy products and saturated fats these produce free radicals which cause cataracts and damage to the
lens.
10.
Do
not use any antihistamines if you have cataracts.
11.
Bilberry
Strengthens and protects veins and blood vessels, protects the retina, reduces
pressure in glaucoma and can stop the growth of cataracts.
12.
Soak
some almond overnight. In the morning, peel them and chew slowly with a glass
of warm milk. It cures every type of eye problem and strengthen the vision.
13.
Consumption
of Vitamin A in large quantity is always recommended to get rid of eye
problems.Taking one or two glasses of fresh carrot juice is very beneficial in
treating cataract.
14.
Take
10gm of ginger juice, 10gm of lemon juice, 10 gm of white onion juice and 50gm honey.
Mix them properly and store in a clean bottle. Remember not to add water. Put two
two drops of this liquid in each eye everyday. The liquid may be preserved for
one month in freeze. Do not use it if you have had any eye operation.
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
Homoeopathy has
holistic approach towards patient which means treating patient as a whole and not
his specific disease or parts of body. While selecting constitutional medicine
of patient his physical, emotional and general factors are considered. These
make our life force called work in harmonious way, and help us to improve our
immune power . A constitutional remedy chosen by an experienced prescriber is the
most appropriate way to help a person with deep-seated or chronic conditions.
Remedies below have been helpful in many cases of cataracts, and are mentioned
here to introduce a few of the possibilities homeopathy can offer, not as
suggestions for self-care.
Homeopathic
opthamologist, doctor Ed Kondrot, M.D. discusses the first article written
about using homeopathy for cataracts. It was published in 1891 by A. B. Norton.
The study examined 295 cataract patients, of which 100 were treated with
homeopathic medicine for more than a three-month period. Improvement was found
in in 58 percent of the participants.
Cineraria maritima: Cineraria acts as a safe
lymphagogue, increasing circulation in the intraocular tissues, also
stimulating collateral circulation and normal metabolism.
Euphrasia (Eyebright): Is the most widely used
natural ingredient for the eye and is often referred to as a “tonic for the
eyes.” It is indicated for cataract with watery eyes, opacities of the cornea
after injury, pain in the eye, dryness, redness and edema, itching and/or
burning of the eyes and lids.
Calcarea carbonica: This remedy may
be indicated when a person developing cataracts has the feeling of looking
through a mist. A person needing this remedy tends to be a responsible type,
but feels overwhelmed when under stress and fears breakdown or disease.
Chilliness, swollen glands, weight problems, and easy tiring from exertion are
other indications for Calcarea carbonica.
Calcarea fluorica: This remedy is often indicated
when tissues harden or thicken abnormally. A person needing this remedy may
also have a tendency toward hard swollen lymph nodes, joint pains, fibrous
growths, or bone-spurs. The person generally feels worse during weather changes
and improved by warmth.
Causticum: This remedy has been helpful in some
cases when the person developing cataracts also had problems moving the eyes,
as if the muscles around the eyeballs were stiff or weak especially after
getting cold in the wind or open air. The person may have a feeling of sand in
the eyes. A person who needs this remedy may tend to have muscular stiffness in
many body areas. They are generally worse from cold and improved by warmth, and
often feel best in damp or rainy weather.
Natrum muriaticum: This remedy may be indicated
when cataracts begin to develop. The muscles around the eyes can feel bruised
and weak, especially when the person looks down. The person may have a feeling
of gauze across the eyes, and parts of the field of vision may be hard to focus
on. A person who needs this remedy usually craves salt, feels worse from being
in the sun, and has deep emotions yet appears to be
reserved.
Phosphorus: People who need this remedy may have a
feeling that dust or mist in the eyes is obscuring vision, or may experience
soreness that feels like eyestrain after very little use. They sometimes see
little bright dots of colored light when the eyes are closed. People who need
this remedy are usually sympathetic and fond of company, but can tire easily.
An active imagination (including many fears) and a strong desire for cold drinks
and refreshing things are other indications for Phosphorus.
Silicea (also called Silica): This remedy has
been helpful to some individuals who developed cataracts after extended periods
of eyestrain, or after perspiration of the feet had been suppressed. People
needing this remedy tend to be chilly (although they often sweat at night) and
often have low resistance to infection. Fine hair, weak nails, easy tiredness, and
swollen lymph nodes are other signs suggesting Silicea.
Sepia may be indicated if the patient
complains of the sensation of weakness in the eyes and the symptoms worsen as
evening approaches. The eyelids may twitch and there may be sharp pains. People
needing Sepia may feel better during daytime hours and when eating.
Cataract Eye Drops with Cineraria
Cineraria
maratima, or dusty miller, is a common herb whose juice is known to dissolve
cataracts. India's
Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare has noted that Cineraria tincture can prevent cataracts from
developing. Additionally, homeopathic doctor William Boericke, M.D. notes in
his Materia Medica with Repertory that Cineraria tincture may reverse existing cataracts.
To obtain the full effects of this herb, the mother tincture must be used
diluted in saline water. Commercial products are not effective.
Homeopathic
drops trigger the transfer of oxygen and nutrients from the blood to the
aqueous to nourish and detoxify the living tissue of the crystalline lens.
Cineraria maritima has been used homeopathically for over one hundred years to
safely and effectively treat cataract. There are no blood vessels to the
crystalline lens and the lens is comprised of living cells which need oxygen,
nutrition, detoxification and anti-oxidation.
