Build-up of fluid in front chamber of eye (space between cornea and lens) due to sudden or gradual blockage of the channel or tissues through which liquid normally drains. Pressure in the eyeball increases, causing collapse of tiny blood vessels at back of eye where nerve fibres from the retina enter the optic nerve; started of nourishment, these fibres die, causing loss of vision. Blockage of the channel between the iris and the cornea is known as angle closure glaucoma; this occurs mainly in elderly people who are long-sighted, onsets fairly suddenly, and usually affects only one eye at a time. First symptoms, lasting an hour or two at most, may be blurred vision or haloes round lights, especially in evenings when iris opens wide to let in as much light as possible; the eye may also be red and painful. At this stage, no permanent damage has been done.
But if symptoms persist and worsen, pressure can irreversibly damage nerve fibres at back of eye; cornea becomes cloudy and grey-green as fluid is forced into it. Pressure in the eyeball is felt as pressure in the head causing vomiting; exhaustion, and intolerance of light, and the eyeball itself feels very hard and tender. One person in 20 over the age of 65 suffers from this acute form of glaucoma, which should be treated as early as possible. If you have any of the symptoms above, consult your doctor if there is no improvement in 2 hours.
Conventional treatment is to reduce pressure in the eye by drops or dehydrating agents, then to snip away a small piece of the iris beneath the upper eyelid (an iridectomy) to re-establish a drainage channel.
Specific remedy to be taken every 15 minutes for up to 10 doses when symptoms start
- Blurred vision, pain in one eye, made worse by bright light Belladonna 30c
In open angle glaucoma, which usually effects both eyes equally, the network of tissue in the drainage angle between the iris and cornea becomes blocked; over a period of years field of vision imperceptibly narrows to straight ahead only, then even this is lost. Open angle glaucoma tends to run in families, so if you have a parent or grandparent who is affected, have your own eyes checked every year. Conventionally pressure within eyeball is kept at a non-dangerous level by use of eye drops. However, if sight is not yet at risk, a combination of constitutional homeopathic treatment and a cleansing diet such as the Liver Diet may be helpful; if, on checking with an eye specialist these measures seem to be controlling the condition, drops may not be necessary. |
Back to Ailments & Diseases
