HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR CATARACT

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face.

Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision.

At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts. But if impaired vision interferes with your usual activities, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.

Causes

Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye's lens.

Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts. Cataracts can also be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medications, too, can cause cataracts to develop.

How a cataract forms

The lens, where cataracts form, is positioned behind the colored part of your eye (iris). The lens focuses light that passes into your eye, producing clear, sharp images on the retina — the light-sensitive membrane in the eye that functions like the film in a camera.

As you age, the lenses in your eyes become less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Age-related and other medical conditions cause tissues within the lens to break down and clump together, clouding small areas within the lens.

As the cataract continues to develop, the clouding becomes denser and involves a bigger part of the lens. A cataract scatters and blocks the light as it passes through the lens, preventing a sharply defined image from reaching your retina. As a result, your vision becomes blurred.

Cataracts generally develop in both eyes, but not evenly. The cataract in one eye may be more advanced than the other, causing a difference in vision between eyes.

Types of cataracts

Cataract types include:

·         Cataracts affecting the center of the lens (nuclear cataracts). A nuclear cataract may at first cause more nearsightedness or even a temporary improvement in your reading vision. But with time, the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and further clouds your vision.

As the cataract slowly progresses, the lens may even turn brown. Advanced yellowing or browning of the lens can lead to difficulty distinguishing between shades of color.

·         Cataracts that affect the edges of the lens (cortical cataracts). A cortical cataract begins as whitish, wedge-shaped opacities or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As it slowly progresses, the streaks extend to the center and interfere with light passing through the center of the lens.

·         Cataracts that affect the back of the lens (posterior subcapsular cataracts). A posterior subcapsular cataract starts as a small, opaque area that usually forms near the back of the lens, right in the path of light. A posterior subcapsular cataract often interferes with your reading vision, reduces your vision in bright light, and causes glare or halos around lights at night. These types of cataracts tend to progress faster than other types do.

·         Cataracts you're born with (congenital cataracts). Some people are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood. These cataracts may be genetic, or associated with an intrauterine infection or trauma.

These cataracts also may be due to certain conditions, such as myotonic dystrophy, galactosemia, neurofibromatosis type 2 or rubella. Congenital cataracts don't always affect vision, but if they do they're usually removed soon after detection.

Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

·         Clouded, blurred or dim vision

·         Increasing difficulty with vision at night

·         Sensitivity to light and glare

·         Need for brighter light for reading and other activities

·         Seeing "halos" around lights

·         Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

·         Fading or yellowing of colors

·         Double vision in a single eye

At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:

·         Increasing age

·         Diabetes

·         Excessive exposure to sunlight

·         Smoking

·         Obesity

·         High blood pressure

·         Previous eye injury or inflammation

·         Previous eye surgery

·      Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications

·         Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

CAUSTICUM 1000-Causticum is one of the top remedies for cataract. It is prescribed in the beginning of the disease .It is prescribed cataract with motor disturbances. There is sparks and dark spots before the eyes. Vision impaired, as if film were before the eyes. There may be astigmatism and presbyopia and weakness of recti muscles. Give one dose every month.

CALCAREA FLOURICA 30- Calcarea Flourica is the most effective among Homeopathic medicines for cataract in the elderly where the person complains of flickering and sparks before his eyes.

SULPHUR 200-Sulphur is effective when cataract with sinking feeling at pit of stomach. There is heat rising to the face and a fainting feeling on going to take bath. It is used as an intercurrent remedy to be given with Calcarea flour. every fortnight.

PHOSPHORUS 200- Phosphorus is one of the effective remedies for cataract. If the above remedies fail to cure within 3 months Phosphorus may tried. There is a sensation as if everything  were covered  with a mist or veil or dust or something pulled lightly over eyes. Black spots are seen to float before eyes. A green halo is seen around candle light. Printed letters appear red. There is great burning of the eyes.

COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE 30- Colchicum is also used for cataract , especially soft variety. Here the pupils are unsqual. Pupil of the left eye contracted . Dim vision after reading.

SILICEA 200- Silicea is indicated for cataract with weak vision resulting from overuse of the eyes. It is used cataract in office workers. It is also good for after effects of injuries and ulcers of the cornea.

MAGNESIUM CARBONIAC 30-Magnesium carb. is prescribed when  cataract cases in which the  person sees tiny black particles before the eye, together with dimness of sight.

AMMONIUM DOREMA 30- Ammoniacum Dorema is the most reliable among Homeopathic medicines for cataract with diminished vision where the eyes get easily fatigued from reading. Stars and fiery points float before the eyes.

NATRUM SULPHURICUM  30-Natrum Sulphuricum is the best prescription for cataract with photophobia, especially on waking up in the morning.

PSORINUM 200-Cataract along with photophobia when walking in open air is treated well Psorinum, making it one of the most reliable Homeopathic medicines for cataract of this type.

CARBO ANIMALIS 30-  The symptoms to look out for prescription of Carbo Animalis are that objects seem far off and there is dimness of vision when reading which gets better by rubbing the eyes. Conium is mostly indicated for cataract in elderly persons who also experience photophobia and excessive lachrymation. Paralysis of ocular muscles is also treated well with Conium, making it one of the sought after Homeopathic medicines for cataract in the elderly.

ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM 30- Antimonium Tartaricum is indicated for incipient cataract which is characterised by weak vision and tired eyes.

PULSATILLA NIG. 30-Pulsatilla is very effective for treating incipient cataract with cloudiness of the lens of the eye occurring at the very initial stage.

CHINA 30- In case of incipient cataract with the feeling that there’s a foreign body in the eye, China is the best Homeopathic medicine to prescribe.Spots before the eyes

CALENDULA 30- Calendula is very effective for cataract from injury where the person senses a foreign body in his eyes..

CONIUM MACULATUM 30-Cataract developing after injury and accompanied by blurred vision is best treated with Homeopathic medicine Conium.

TELLURIUM 30- Tellurium is the most effective among Homeopathic medicines for cataract developing post injury along with ocular lesions.

SENEGA 30-Senega is very effective for cataract that develops  after a surgery and causes flickering and double vision. The person feels the need to wipe the eyes frequently

ARNICA MONTANA 30-Arnica Montana is prescribed when  cataract that develops after an injury, leaving the person feeling bruised and sore in the eyes.

STRONTIUM CARBONICUM 30-Strontium Carbonicum is the best among Homeopathic medicines for cataract developing after a surgery where the person complains of green spots before the eyes and photophobia.

ZINCUM SULPH. 1000—Zincum sulph is very effective for cataract. It is not repeated frequently and it will clear up the opacities of the cornea.

CINERARIA MARITIMA - Cineraria mar. is widely used as eye drops in cataract and corneal opacities and is reputed for its curative effect. 2 or 3 drops in each eye thrice daily. It should be continued with the above treatment. It has to be used for 3—6 months.