– The only diseases of the eye which can be dealt with domestically are inflammation of the surface membrane (conjunctiva) which covers the eyeball and also the internal surface of the lids. The latter has been dealt with under EYELIDS. “Inflammation of the eye,” popularly understood, includes two main kinds, acute and chronic, the chronic being often due to scrofula.
General Treatment. – The chief thing to be observed is cleanliness. Many cases of chronic inflammation of the eyes are due to the want of this. Frequent bathing with hot water is useful in almost all cases.
Inflammation of the eyes in new-born children is a very serious thing and demands immediate attention from the doctor and nurse. For this see under INFANTS. When foreign bodies have got into the eye care must be taken not to rub it. For ordinary dust the best thing to do is to wash the eye with water. Immersing the eye in a vessel containing cold water and opening and shutting the lids will get rid of it. If it is lime it should be washed with vinegar and water, and afterwards bathed with olive oil. If it is a particle of iron it will have to be removed by a surgeon.
Medicines.-(In acute inflammations every hour until relieved, in chronic cases two or three times a day.)
Aconite3.
– Acute inflammation of the eye from cold, or from injury.
Belladonna3.
– When the eyes are quite dry and much affected by light; face red.
Pulsatilla3.
– Abundance of tears during the day; whitish profuse bland discharge. In scrofulous children at the beginning.
Mercurius6.
– Profuse excoriating flow of tears, and thin acrid matter; pains in eyes worse at night; scrofulous inflammation when the pains are worse from either heat or cold.
Sulph.6.
– In acute inflammation after Aconite In chronic scrofulous inflammation, eyelids almost closed; light very painful; is blind during the day, and can only see a little during twilight.
Calcarea6.
– Film on the clear part of the eye remaining after inflammation.
Hepar 6.
– Eyelids and eyes red and sore, lids close spasmodically; light intolerable in the evening, pimples about the eye; eyes worse in cold and dry weather; better when wrapped up warmly.
See also BLINDNESS.
