Glaucoma can be treated with Homeopathic constitutional treatment?
How effectively glaucoma can be treated with Homeopathic constitutional treatment? Homeopathic article by Dr Sunitha Devi Vannemreddy M.D (Hom)
drsunithavannemreddy@gmail.com
Glaucoma is the disease of Eye, is one of important sensory organ and for vision. Eye is
a complex organ with retina, sclera, iris, aqueous humour and vitreous humour
and connected to brain with optic nerve. Structure of eye is well protected
with eye lids in the socket of skull. It is one of the sensitive organs in the
human body. There are different disease associated with the eye and optic nerve
which impact on the eye sight.
Sometimes, person identifies the alteration in the vision,
poor visibility which made them to visit the doctor. After the thorough
examination, doctor declares that poor visibility due to Glaucoma. So what is
glaucoma? How it develops? All are questions and here is the answer for
glaucoma and its treatment with Homeopathy.
Glaucoma is an ocular disorder that results in damage of
optic nerve, associated with increased fluid pressure in the eye, i.e.
intraocular pressure (IOP). It affects
the vision, first loss of peripheral vision leading to permanent loss of
vision, if untreated. Glaucoma often called as “silent thief of sight” because
the loss of vision often occurs gradually over the period of time and symptoms
only occurred when the disease is quite advance. It is irreversible phenomena,
i.e. once vision is impaired it cannot be recovered. So that treatment will be
to save optic nerve from further damage. In modern treatment, further
prevention is possible than the vision recovery. Glaucoma is second leading
cause of blindness, after cataract.
Glaucoma mostly affects in older people than younger, above
50 years of age. If the condition is detected early, it is possible to arrest
the development or slow the progression with medical and surgical therapies.
Types of glaucoma:
Disorder can be roughly divided into, “open-angle glaucoma”
and “closed-angle glaucoma”.
Open-angle glaucoma – it is painless, tend to develop slowly
over the time and often has no symptoms until disease progressed significantly.
Closed-angle glaucoma – it is characterised by sudden eye
pain, redness, nausea and vomiting and other symptoms resulting from sudden
increase in the intra ocular pressure, should be treated as medical emergency.
Glaucoma and its subtypes are considered to be “optic
neuropathy”. The nerve damage involves loss of retina ganglion cells in a
characteristic pattern. Raised intra ocular pressure is the most important and
only modifiable risk factor in glaucoma.
Ocular hypertension - is the condition; in which high eye
pressure for years and never develop damage.
Low or normal tension
glaucoma - is the another condition, in which optic nerve damage associated
with visual field loss, nut normal or low intraocular pressure.
Other variants of glaucoma are;
Exfoliation glaucoma: a common form of open-angle glaucoma
that results when there is a buildup of abnormal, whitish material on the lens
and drainage angle of the eye. This material and pigment from the back of the
iris can clog the drainage system of the eye, causing increased eye pressure.
This form of glaucoma responds well to laser treatment.
Pigmentary glaucoma: a condition that typically affects
young, nearsighted, Caucasian males. This condition is characterized by the
iris bowing backwards, and coming into contact with the support structures that
hold the lens in place. This position disrupts the cells lining the back
surface of the iris containing pigment, and results in a release of pigment
particles into the drainage system of the eye. This pigment can clog the drain
and can lead to an increase in eye pressure. This form of glaucoma responds
well to laser treatment.
Neovascular glaucoma: an uncommon type of glaucoma is
difficult or nearly impossible to treat and is often caused by proliferative
diabetic neuropathy or central retinal vein occlusion. It may also be triggered
by other conditions results in ischemia of retina or ciliary body. Individuals with
poor blood flow to the eye are highly at risk with this condition. Neovascular glaucoma
results when new, abnormal vessels begin developing in the angle of the eye
that begins blocking the drainage. Patients with such condition begin to
rapidly their eye sight. Sometimes, the disease appears very rapidly, especially
after cataract surgery procedures.
Toxic glaucoma: it is open angle glaucoma with an
unexplained significant rise in intraocular pressure flowing unknown
pathogenesis. Intraocular pressure can sometimes reach 80 mmHg. It is
characteristically manifests as ciliary body inflammation and massive
trabecular odema that sometimes extends to Schlemm’s canal. This condition is
differentiated from malignant glaucoma by the presence of a deep and clear
anterior chamber and a lack of aqueous misdirection. Also, the corneal appearance
us not as hazy. A reduction in visual acuity can occur followed neurological
breakdown. Associated factors include inflammation, drugs, trauma and
intraocular surgery, including cataract surgery and vitrectomy procedures.
Glaucoma can be classified in to specific types:
1)
Primary glaucoma
2)
Secondary glaucoma
3)
Developmental glaucoma
4)
Absolute glaucoma
Primary glaucoma
- Primary
open-angle glaucoma, also known as chronic open-angle glaucoma, chronic
simple glaucoma, glaucoma simplex
·
High-tension glaucoma
·
Low-tension glaucoma
- Primary
angle closure glaucoma, also known as primary closed-angle glaucoma,
narrow-angle glaucoma, pupil-block glaucoma, acute congestive glaucoma
·
Acute angle closure glaucoma
·
Chronic angle closure glaucoma
·
Intermittent angle closure glaucoma
·
Superimposed on chronic open-angle closure glaucoma ("combined
mechanism" – uncommon)
Variants of primary glaucoma
- Pigmentary glaucoma
- Exfoliation
glaucoma, also known as pseudoexfoliative glaucoma or
glaucoma capsulare
- Primary juvenile glaucoma
Developmental glaucoma
- Primary
congenital glaucoma
- Infantile
glaucoma
- Glaucoma
associated with hereditary of familial diseases
Secondary glaucoma
- Inflammatory
glaucoma
- Phacogenic
glaucoma
- Glaucoma
secondary to intraocular hemorrhage
- Traumatic
glaucoma
- Neovascular
glaucoma
- Drug-induced
glaucoma
- Glaucoma
of miscellaneous origin
·
Associated with intraocular tumors
·
Associated with retinal detachments
·
Secondary to severe chemical burns of the eye
·
Associated with essential iris atrophy
·
Toxic glaucoma
Absolute glaucoma
Absolute glaucoma is the end stage of all types of
glaucoma. The eye has no vision, absence of pupillary light reflex and pupillary response, and has a stony appearance.
Severe pain is present in the eye.
Warning signs for glaucoma:
- Unusual
trouble adjusting to dark rooms
- Difficulty
focusing on near or distant objects
- Squinting
or blinking due to unusual sensitivity to light or glare
- Change in color of iris
- Red-rimmed,
encrusted or swollen lids
- Recurrent
pain in or around eyes
- Double
vision
- Dark
spot at the center of viewing
- Lines
and edges appear distorted or wavy
- Excess
tearing or "watery eyes"
- Dry
eyes with itching or burning; and
- Seeing
spots, ghost-like images
- Sudden
loss of vision in one eye
- Sudden
hazy or blurred vision
- Flashes
of light or black spots
- Halos
or rainbows around light
Causes for glaucoma:
There are no specific causes for glaucoma is identified. No specific
dietary factors are seen in causing glaucoma. But caffeine causes increase in
intra ocular pressure in those has glaucoma but not seen affect in normal
persons.
Positive family history is a risk factor in glaucoma. A relative risk of
developing primary open angle glaucoma is four fold in siblings of glaucoma
patient.
Secondary glaucoma, caused by prolonged use of steroids (steroid induced
glaucoma), the conditions that severely restrict the blood flow to eye such as
severe diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion (neovascular
glaucoma), ocular trauma (angle-recession glaucoma) and uveilitis (uveilitic
glaucoma).
Persons who are at risk for glaucoma:
high ocular pressure alone is not
deciding factor that person have glaucoma, but also the risk factors will
decide the affect of glaucoma on person.
The most important risk factors include:
- Age
- Elevated
eye pressure
- Thin
cornea
- Family
history of glaucoma
- Nearsightedness
- Past
injuries to the eyes
- Steroid
use
- A
history of severe anemia or shock
Individuals with diabetes and hypertension may also have an
increased risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.
Diagnosis of glaucoma:
Regular eye examinations by your ophthalmologist are the
best way to detect glaucoma. Your ophthalmologist will measure your eye
pressure with Tonometry. Inspect the drainage angle of your eye with Gonioscopy.
Evaluate your optic nerve with Ophthalmolscopy and test the visual field
of each eye with Perimetry. Optic nerve evaluation and visual field
testing are performed at regular intervals to monitor the effects of glaucoma.
The information from these tests provides an indication of the effectiveness of
the treatment being used and whether further treatments may be necessary.
Glaucoma tests:
Sr No
|
Test
|
What it examines
|
How will test done
|
1
|
Tonometry
|
Inner eye pressure
|
The eye is numbed via eye drops. The examiner then uses a
tonometer to measure the inner pressure of the eye through pressure applied
by a puff of warm air or a tiny tool.
|
2
|
Opthalmoscopy
|
Shape and color of optic nerve
|
The pupil is dilated via the application of eye drops.
Using a small magnification device with a light on the end, the examiner can
examine the magnified optic nerve.
|
3
|
Perimetry
|
Complete field vision
|
The patient looks straight ahead and is asked to indicate
when light passes the patient's peripheral field of vision. This allows the
examiner to map the patient’s field of vision.
|
4
|
Gonioscopy
|
Angle in the eye where iris meets the cornea
|
Eye drops are used to numb the eye. A hand-held contact
lens with a mirror is placed gently on the eye to allow the examiner to see
the angle between the cornea and the iris.
|
5
|
Pachymetry
|
Thickness of cornea
|
The examiner places a pachymeter gently on the front of
the eye to measure its thickness.
|
6
|
Nerve fibre analysis
|
Thickness of nerve fibre layer
|
Using one of several techniques, the nerve fibers are
examined.
|
Treatment
The treatment for glaucoma depends upon the nature and severity of each
case. In general, glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Eye
drops, pills, laser procedures, and surgical operations are used to prevent or
slow further damage from occurring. With any type of glaucoma, regular eye
examinations are very important to detect progression and to prevent vision
loss.
Medicines: Glaucoma is often treated with eye drops
taken regularly several times a day, sometimes in combination with pills. These
medications will alter the circulation of eye fluid and lower eye pressure,
either by decreasing the production of fluid within the eye, or by increasing
the flow leaving the drainage angle. Side-effects from some eye drops may
include a stinging sensation, red eyes, blurred vision, headaches, or changes
in pulse, heartbeat or breathing. Side-effects from pills may include tingling
of fingers and toes, drowsiness, loss of appetite, bowel irregularities, kidney
stones, anemia or bleeding disorders.
Laser Surgery: Laser surgery is also effective for
glaucoma treatment. Trabeculoplasty is laser treatment to enhance the eye drain
age function to control eye pressure within the eye when treating open-angle
glaucoma. Iridotomy is laser treatment to create tiny holes in the iris to
improve the flow of eye fluid to the drain when treating narrow angle glaucoma.
Operative Surgery: Surgery will be recommended only
if your ophthalmologist feels the benefit of a lower eye pressure achieved with
an operation outweighs possible complications and/or further progression of
optic nerve damage.
Homeopathic treatment for glaucoma:
Homeopathic constitutional treatment will take good care of glaucoma cases.
As glaucoma is progressive destructive disease, with homeopathic medication
complaints will reduce and it will arrest the further progression of disease
without any side effects.
In allopathic treatment for glaucoma, they use tropical adnergic agonists,
cholinergic agonists, beta blockers and prostaglandin analogues. With this
medication, always there will be side effects. Even the beta blockers used in
eye drops, causes bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, heart block and even
impotence and depression.
Main aims and criteria of homeopathic classical treatment is,
1)
It is safe and alternative mode of treatment which can be used alone or
along with allopathic medication like eye drops prescribed by ophthalmologist.
2)
It will arrest the further progression of disease, in advanced cases.
3)
It will prevent and arrest the disease if diagnosed and treated early.
4)
It prevents progression of disease for another eye, if treated early.
5)
As homeopathic treatment acts in person as a whole, constitutionally, it
will reduce the intraocular pressure.
6)
It corrects the hypertension glaucoma and reduces the symptoms.
7)
It will reduce and cures the symptoms like, redness, swelling, clarity of
vision.
8)
It improves the visual quality and halo vision and diplopia.
9)
In case of family history, it will reduce the effect of disease if treated
prior.
10)
Genetic predominance will be reduced.
Some of the important rubrics which help in glaucoma treatment are,
Eye, anaemia of, optic nerve
Eye, atrophy of, optic nerve
Eye, blinking, looking at bright object
Eye, bloated lids
Eye, congestion
Eye, crooked, objects seems
Eye, dimness
Eye, discoloration, redness
Eye, edema
Eye, fiery
Eye, fire, darting out, as if
Eye, glaucoma
Eye, glazed
Eye, heaviness
Eye, hypertensive retinopathy
Eye, inflammation
Eye, intoxication, appearance of
Eye, sensitive
Eye, swelling
Eye, tension, increased
Eye, water
Vision, approach, objects seems to then reduce
Vision, blurred
Vision, circles, rings
Vision, confusion of colors
Vision, dazzling
Vision, diplopia
Vision, field of vision, contracted
Vision, film before eyes, as if
Vision, impaired
Vision, loss of vision
Vision, smoky
Vision, twinkling before eyes
Vision, vanishing sight
Vision, weak
Some of important Homeopathic Medicines which help in treatment of glaucoma are:
For Acute complaints:
Aconite, Apis, Ammonium, Arnica, Asafoetida, Atropinum, Belladonna,
Bryonia, Chelidonium, Coffea, Colo cynth, Gloninum, Grindelia, Ipecac,
Jaborandi, Ranunculus bulbosus, Sanguinaria, Secale, Spigelia, Tabacum.
For Chronic complaints:
Aristolochia, Aurum met, Aurum muriaticum, Calcarea calb, cauticum, Cedron,
Gelsimium, Iodum, Lachesis, Natrum mur, Prunus, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Osmium,
Phosphorus, Pysostigma, Plumbum, Sulphuric acidum.
Some of the indicated drugs:
PHOSPHORUS: Indicated for a green halo about the candlelight like Osmium. Letters appear red. Sensation as if everything were covered with a mist or veil, or something pulled tightly over eyes. The patient sees well by shading eyes with the hand. There is a fatigue of the eyes and head even without much use of the eyes. Degenerative changes in the eyes with soreness and curved lines are seen in old people. It is also a good drug for retinal trouble with lights and hallucination of vision. Black points seem to float before the eyes. There may be an atrophy of the optic nerve and partial loss of vision from abuse of tobacco or a thrombosis of retinal vessels and degenerative changes in retinal cells.
COMOCLADIA DENTATA: It is to be considered when there are throbbing pains worse by heat. There is a ciliary neuralgia with the eyes feeling large and protruded, especially RIGHT, which is worse, near warm stove. Sees only a glimmer of light with the left eye. Glaucoma, with a sense of fullness; eyeball feels too large. Eyes feel as if pressed outward. Motion of eyes aggravates.
PHYSOSTIGMA: It is another drug for glaucoma with flashes of light and partial blindness.There is a contraction of the pupils and twitching of ocular muscles. There is also a spasm of the ciliary muscle in the eye, with irritability after using the eyes. It is an important drug for patients with an ncreasing myopia. Other eye conditions where this drug is useful are: night-blindness, photophobia, floaters, paresis of accommodation and astigmatism.
PRUNUS SPINOSA: Useful for glaucoma with a sudden pain in left eye as if it would burst, better by lachrymation. There is sometimes also a bursting pain in the right eyeball, shooting like lightning through the brain to the occiput. It is also useful for ciliary neuralgia, irido-choroiditis and opacity of the vitreous humor.
SPIGELIA: Glaucoma with a sensation in the eyes as if they are too large. There is a severe pain in and around the eyes, extending deep into the socket. There is also a pressive pain on turning them. There may be a pain from beneath the eminence of the forehead and temples, extending to the eyes. It is felt as a semi-lateral headache, involving the left eye; the pain is violent and throbbing; worse, making a false step. The pupils are dilated.
Thank you Dr.Sunitha for the information provided on GLAUCOMA and HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT.
ReplyDelete"Even the beta blockers used in eye drops, causes bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, heart block and even impotence and depression."
ReplyDelete-------------
This is true which I have observed in my cases.
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