Conjunctivitis and Homeopathy

Conjunctivitis comes in four varieties: viral, bacterial, and allergic and as a result of a foreign body causing abrasions. Physically the signs are often difficult to distinguish. Allergic conjunctivitis would be bilateral, produce watery discharge and be accompanied by itching. The other conditions would probably start in one eye, the discharge would be thicker and stickier and the pain would be more burning and stinging. But we mustn’t over-generalize and indeed the cause is not so important from a homeopathic point of view.
General measures
the eyes have a great ability to heal themselves and conjunctivitis is more often than not self-limiting. It helps to bathe the eyes as often as possible with salt water (a teaspoon to a pint of boiled and cooled water), or, if the eyes are especially “sticky”, a mixture of half milk to water, “sterilized” as above. Contact lenses should be removed and discarded if possible or at least thoroughly cleaned to prevent re-infection.
Homeopathic
Apis mel is useful for allergic conjunctivitis. The conjunctiva are bright red and very swollen, there seem to be water bags under the eyes which leak excess hot fluid. There may be sudden piercing pains. Both eyes are normally affected.
With Arsenicum alb the conjunctiva is red, swollen and infected. There is purulent discharge and a burning sensation, but warm compresses ease the pain. The lids may be “crusty” and eye-lashes could fall out. The patient is often panicky and not easily reassured.
Argent nit presents a similar picture. The inner canthi of the eye are particularly affected, becoming red and swollen. The patient will be more worried than panicky and will feel better for closing the eyes and pressing them.
Belladonna on the other hand presents with a very hot, red, and swollen but essentially dry eye. The condition may have come on very suddenly and any pain associated is throbbing. Characteristically the pupils are dilated, staring and brilliant. The patient will be more cross than panicky.
Euphrasia and Allium cepa are normally associated with hay fever or colds. They work almost as opposites. I remember which is which by thinking of the effects of peeling strong onions. Burning nasal discharge, but bland copious tears (even though the eyes themselves will burn), that’s Allium or onion. Euphrasia is the other way round; bland nasal discharge but burning tears which leave a “varnish” on the face. In practice, if people aren’t sure of their symptoms I tell them to try one and if it doesn’t work use the other. Not very scientific but effective in an emergency!
The above remedies are the most common ones I recommend. But there are special occasions when others are more appropriate. I’m thinking of Nux vom for the “hangover” type of conjunctivitis; Rhus tox for conjunctivitis associated with a rheumatic cold, or Pulsatilla when there is a general cold with bland yellowy discharges and the patient feels better for rubbing the eyes, whether because of the pain or because they are a mite weepy!
I usually recommend 30c potency to be taken every two hours, if necessary for up to two days. Some patients prefer to apply something directly to the eyes, in which case the tablets or pills can be dissolved in a little suitably sterilized water and used as a wash. I don’t think they work any better this way but there may be a psychological advantage. If the condition is no better after two days the patient should seek further advice from an appropriate practitioner.