Seeing clearly with homeopathy

Homeopathy can be helpful for treating both cataracts and glaucoma, says homeopath David Needleman. Here are his recommended remedies for supporting eye health and vision

As the nights draw in, the glare of oncoming headlights can make driving challenging. While the problem may simply be excessively bright or poorly adjusted beams, increased sensitivity to glare, the perception of halos around lights and poor vision at night can also be symptoms of cataracts.

Cataracts are cloudy, opaque patches in the lens of the eye that develop when proteins break down and clump together. As well as the symptoms just mentioned, cataracts can also cause blurry, foggy or double vision. They can make it difficult to read and watch television, and some people find they make colors look faded or less vivid than normal.

The standard treatment is an operation to remove the lens and replace it with an artificial one. But there are also a number of natural approaches to consider, including homeopathy.

The best option is constitutional treatment, when a remedy is selected by a homeopath based on the whole person rather than a particular symptom or condition. But there are also several remedies often used to slow or even reverse the development of cataracts. These can be used in addition to a constitutional remedy or until you get a diagnosis or consultation with a homeopath.

Homeopathic remedies for cataracts

Cineraria Maritima

Always my first choice as an addition to constitutional treatment, this remedy seems to help slow down the maturation of cataracts. It can be used internally (my preference) but can also be made into eye drops for topical use.

Cineraria Maritima is also useful if there has been some sort of trauma to the eye, such as an object hitting the eye.

Suggested dosage: 30C potency, one pill daily, ongoing; increase to twice a day if needed

Narayani Cataract Compound B 50M (Mix 68)

Designed as a balancing remedy for cataracts, this combination contains several remedies to help reduce the cloudiness and fibrotic changes associated with cataracts while supporting the body’s natural healing and immune processes.

Suggested dosage: Take three times a day for at least three months; if there’s no change after that time, see a homeopath for advice

Calcarea Carbonica

Symptoms that point to this remedy include sensitivity to light, lachrymation (tearing) in the open air and early morning, eyes that tire easily and dim vision (as if looking through a mist).

Suggested dosage: 30C potency, one pill twice a day for several months

Calcarea Fluorica

Some of you may know this remedy as a cell salt or tissue salt (see page xx). It’s often given to encourage the dissolving of many things, such as cloudiness around the lens. It can also be helpful for other eye conditions, such as floaters.

Suggested dosage: 6X potency, two to four tablets three times a day for several month

Phosphorus

This remedy is suitable if you are suffering with misty vision, which may be improved by shielding your eyes with your hands. It may also appear that everything is covered in a veil or dust.

Phosphorus is also a useful remedy for glaucoma.

Suggested dosage: 30C potency, one pill twice a day for several months

Silicea

This remedy is often used for cataracts with blurred or fuzzy vision. When you’re reading, letters may appear to run together. It’s especially useful for office workers or anyone who spends a lot of time looking at screens.

Suggested dosage: 30C potency, twice daily for several months, or, as a tissue salt in 6X potency, two to four tablets three times a day for several months

Homeopathic remedies for glaucoma

Another eye disorder that homeopathy can be used for is glaucoma, a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve becomes damaged, potentially leading to vision loss. The most common type in adults is primary open-angle glaucoma, which usually develops gradually and may cause no noticeable symptoms in its early stages.

The following remedies can be helpful for glaucoma depending on the symptoms. As with cataracts, they are best used alongside a constitutional remedy following a consultation with a homeopath.

Gelsemium

This is the most important self-help remedy for glaucoma. It can also help where there is dilation of the pupils, heavy drooping eyelids (ptosis), double vision, blind spells and twitching of the eye muscles.

Belladonna

Belladonna can be beneficial for throbbing in the eyes, especially on lying down. The eyes may also be swollen, protruding, staring and sensitive to light.

Bryonia

This remedy is indicated for eyes that feel sore to the touch. There may also be an aching, crushing pain in the eyes. With Bryonia, symptoms feel better with pressure applied and from a lack of stimulation by light or noise.

Jaborandi (Pilocarpus)

Symptoms that suggest Jaborandi include eyestrain (eyes may tire easily from the slightest use), blurred vision, vertigo and nausea. The pupils may also be contracted and nonreactive to light.

Osmium

Glaucoma with iridescent vision, severe eye pain with tearing, dim vision, sensitivity to light and the perception of green halos around light sources, such as candles, are some of the symptoms that can point to Osmium.

Phosphorus

As well as being helpful for certain cataract symptoms, this remedy can be useful for those with atrophy of the optic nerve, thrombosis of the retinal vessels and degenerative changes in retinal cells. In older people, there may be eye soreness, wavy or curved vision, and light sensitivity.

Seeing a green halo around a light source is another symptom suggestive of Phosphorus.

Physostigma

Symptoms that point to Physostigma include night blindness, sensitivity to light (photophobia), contraction of the pupils and twitching of the ocular muscles. You may see flashes of light and suffer from increasing myopia (shortsightedness) or even partial blindness.

Rhus Tox

Rhus Tox is indicated in those with red, swollen eyes or anyone suffering from a past eye injury or iritis (inflammation of the iris). Another symptom suggesting this remedy is tears that feel hot or burning, especially upon first opening the eyes.

Spigelia

Although a fairly rare remedy, Spigelia can be helpful for painful eyes. There may be pressure pains when moving the eyes, severe pain around the eyes extending deep into the sockets, or even optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve). Dilated pupils, sensitivity to light and eyes that feel too large can also suggest Spigelia is the right remedy.

Suggested dosages: For all of the glaucoma remedies, take one pill in 30C potency twice a day for several months

Get your eyes checked

If you’re experiencing any changes in vision, make sure to get your eyes checked by an optometrist. Even if your vision seems fine, regular eye tests are important because glaucoma or other conditions can develop without noticeable symptoms.

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