HOMOEOPATHY FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Diabetic retinopathy  is a diabetes complication that affects eyes. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).

At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. Eventually, it can cause blindness. The condition can develop in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms

 Diabetic retinopathy symptoms may include:

·         Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)

·         Blurred vision

·         Fluctuating vision

·         Impaired color vision

·         Dark or empty areas in your vision

·         Vision loss

Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.

Causes

Over time, too much sugar in your blood can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. But these new blood vessels don't develop properly and can leak easily.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:

·         Early diabetic retinopathy. In this more common form — called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) — new blood vessels aren't growing (proliferating).

In  NPDR, the walls of the blood vessels in  retina weaken. Tiny bulges (microaneurysms) protrude from the vessel walls of the smaller vessels, sometimes leaking fluid and blood into the retina. Larger retinal vessels can begin to dilate and become irregular in diameter, as well. NPDR can progress from mild to severe, as more blood vessels become blocked.

Nerve fibers in the retina may begin to swell. Sometimes the central part of the retina (macula) begins to swell (macular edema), a condition that requires treatment.

·         Advanced diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can progress to this more severe type, known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this type, damaged blood vessels close off, causing the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels in the retina, and can leak into the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of your eye (vitreous).

Eventually, scar tissue stimulated by the growth of new blood vessels may cause the retina to detach from the back of your eye. If the new blood vessels interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, pressure may build up in the eyeball. This can damage the nerve that carries images from the eye to  brain (optic nerve), resulting in glaucoma

Risk factors

Anyone who has diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Risk of developing the eye condition can increase as a result of:

·         Duration of diabetes — the longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy

·         Poor control of your blood sugar level

·         High blood pressure

·         High cholesterol

·         Pregnancy

·         Tobacco use

·         Being African-American, Hispanic or Native American

Complications

Diabetic retinopathy involves the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina. Complications can lead to serious vision problems:

·         Vitreous hemorrhage. The new blood vessels may bleed into the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of your eye. If the amount of bleeding is small, you might see only a few dark spots (floaters). In more-severe cases, blood can fill the vitreous cavity and completely block your vision.

Vitreous hemorrhage by itself usually doesn't cause permanent vision loss. The blood often clears from the eye within a few weeks or months. Unless your retina is damaged, your vision may return to its previous clarity.

·         Retinal detachment. The abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy stimulate the growth of scar tissue, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This may cause spots floating in your vision, flashes of light or severe vision loss.

·         Glaucoma. New blood vessels may grow in the front part of your eye and interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, causing pressure in the eye to build up (glaucoma). This pressure can damage the nerve that carries images from your eye to your brain (optic nerve).

·         Blindness. Eventually, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or both can lead to complete vision loss.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. It strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance  at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When diabetic retinopathy   is concerned there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy , but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient , considering mental and physical symptoms.

 

ARNICA MONTANA:  Bloodshot. Double vision from trauma and retinal hemorrhage. Bruised, sore feeling in the yes after close work. Feel tired and heavy  after sightseeing, moving pictures. Must keep eyes open. Dizzy on closing them. Photophobia. High objects lean forward and about to fall. Right eye protrudes, looks larger than left.

BELLADONNA:  Throbbing deep in eyes on lying down. Eyes feel swollen and protruding. Pupils dilated. Staring, brilliant, conjunctiva red, dry, burn, shooting in eyes. Photophobia. Double vision. Attacks of blindness, then yellow vision. Sensation as if eyes were half closed. Lines appear crooked when reading.

LACHESIS: Defective vision after diphtheria, extrinsic muscles too weak to maintain focus. Sensation as if eyes were drawn together by cords which were tied in a knot at root of nose. Blindness with lung or heart disorders. Eyes watery from pain. Intra-ocular hemorrhages. Feels as if eyes were forced out on pressing the throat. Dim sight. Unsteady look, eyes roll vacantly.

PHOSPHORUS:  Eyeballs feel large, stiff, Choroiditis. Fatigue of eyes and head even without much use of eyes. Edema of lids and about eyes. Pearly white conjunctiva and long curved lashes. Glaucoma. Cataract. Vitreous opacities. Atrophy of optic nerve. Double vision due to deviation of the visual axis. Partial loss of vision. Narrow field of vision. Sensation as if everything were covered with a mist or veil or something pulled tightly over eyes. Green halo about candlelight. Black points seem to float before the eyes. Letters appear red. Thrombosis of retinal vessels and degenerative changes in retina. Retinal troubles with the lights and hallucination of vision.

PHYSOSTIGMA: Bloodshot eyes with burning. Astigmatism. Glaucoma. Contraction of pupils. Profuse lachrymation. Spasm of ciliary muscles with irritability after using the eyes. Pain over orbits. Increasing myopia. Eyelids tense, cannot close or open them. Photophobia. Night blindness. Vision trembling. Muscae volitantes, flashes of light.