An Eye on Menopause
by Ed Kondrot, MD
Contact lenses can dramatically increase tear evaporation.
Remember that the totality of symptoms should be used to select the proper homeopathic remedy. |
 here are many physical changes which take place
in the female body during menopause. Many of these
physical changes can be unpleasant and because of our
youth oriented society everyone is interested in slowing
or reversing these changes. Unfortunately menopause is an
event that can not be stopped. Menopause should be
embraced as an important milestone in a woman's life. I admit, as a man, not having any experience with the menses or menopause, I am reluctant to write an article about menopause especially when there are so many female homeopaths who are more qualified. As an introduction to my article I would like to present the male counterpart to menopause which is mentalpause. This is the natural inability of the male species to relate to our female counterpart. Unfortunately it is not short lived like menopause but persists throughout our life! There are many eye problems which develop during the menopausal period. Most of these disorders are not directly related to menopause but develop because of predisposition's of the basic constitution of the person. J.C. Burnett in his book The Change of Life in Women states: Not that new symptoms really begin in the individuals at the menopause, they were for the most part there before, only that at this time of life the manifestations change form. Additional factors which can bring on symptoms during this time period are aging, stress, poor nutrition and hormonal factors. I would like to discuss these ocular problems and their homeopathic treatment. It is important to understand that problems related to the eyes are not simple conditions that can be washed away with a few eye drops. Most of the problems I am going to discuss are reflections of deeper problems in the body. It is stated that the eyes are the windows of the soul and they also express the general physical , emotional and mental health of our person. In order to utilize the power of homeopathy we must bring together all of these aspects in order to select the correct remedy that will heal. In the reminder of this article I will discuss the three most common complaints: dry eye (with an example case), presbyopia, and cataract. The most common ocular condition which presents during menopause is dry eyes. Dry Eyes Dry eyes are a common problem in the menopausal female. There are five common causes of dry eyes:
Symptoms include burning, itching, watering, dryness and redness of the eyes. These symptoms are worse late in the day. Other common symptoms are blurred and fluctuating vision and difficulty reading. Deficiency of vitamin A has been shown to contribute to dry eyes. The first line of treatment should be a healthy diet with fresh dark green leafy vegetables or supplemental vitamin A. I would recommend 10,000 Units of Vitamin A once a day. Vitamin A can be toxic to the liver so be sure to consult with your health care practitioner. Artificial tears and lubricating eye drops are the second line of treatment. They can be used as often as every hour to help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. There are many brands of artificial tears on the market. The best are those that are preservative free. Care should be taken to avoid dry atmospheric conditions and irritants to the eye. The following are rubrics in Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica by J.T. Kent and a few homeopathic remedies which are useful in the treatment of dry eyes. Remember that the totality of symptoms should be used to select the proper homeopathic remedy. EYE, DRYNESS: There are 96 remedies listed for dry eyes in Synthesis by F. Schroyens. Most of the information on each remedy for dry eyes is from Ophthalmic Diseases And Therapeutics by Norton. Aconitum: Symptoms from an exposure to a cold dry wind. Dryness, burning, sensitiveness to air. Burning in the eyes especially worse in the evening. Eyes are sensitive with much heat, burning and aching. Worse looking down or turning the eyes. Feeling like sand is in the eyes. Photophobia (sensitivity to bright light) Alumina: Burning and dryness every evening. Pain in the inner canthus (This is the middle corner of the eyelid). Dry mucous in the morning on waking. Dryness and excoriation (superficial abrasion of the skin) in the internal canthus. Burning on waking especially on looking up. Pressure on the eye with difficulty opening them. Photophobia Arsenicum: Suborbital (Below the eye) pain on the left side with prickings as with needles. Pain on margins of the eyelid on moving them, as if they were dry and rubbed against the eyeball. Burning of the margins of the lid. Feeling of sand in the eyes in the evening. Burning, eyes hot, with burning sore pains in the balls and a feeling as if they had no room. Pulsative throbbing after midnight. Photophobia. Belladonna: Eyes dry, motion attended with a sense of dryness and stiffness to the eyes. Feeling of heat in the eyes. Seems as if they were surrounded by hot vapors. Pressive pain deep in the ball. Feeling as if the eyes protruded. Severe throbbing pain in the eye and head, worse at night. Lycopodium: Eyelids dry, with smarting pain. They cannot be opened, even on rubbing in the morning. Dryness of the eyes in the evening and at night. Severe burning and itching in the eyes. Pressive pain in the eyes, as if dust were in them. Stitches in the eye. Mezereum: Jerking of muscles of the upper lid. Watering with biting in the eyes. Eyes hot and inflamed on rising in the morning. Much pressure in the eyes with a sensation of dryness, as if the conjunctiva of the lids were much inflamed. Smarting in the eyes compelling to rub them. Itching and biting (cutting sensation as if being bit) on the margins of the lids and skin near the nose. Nux moschata: Blue rings around the eyes or under the eyes. Sensation of dryness in the eyes. Reading by artificial light is difficult: the eyes would close from sleep. Sensation of fullness in the eyes. Opium: Pupils contracted. Eyes dry and weak, with burning and a sensation as if dust were in them. Scintillations (flickering, spark or a flash). Sensation as if the eyes were too large for the orbits. Eyes half closed, red and burning. Pulsatilla: Eyelids are agglutinated (stuck together by secretion) in the morning. Watering in the cold open air. Dryness of the lids. Biting pain and a sensation of soreness in the inner canthus. Violent sticking in the eyelids and canthi (corners of the eyelids) in the evening. Itching, biting and burning in the lids in the evening. Dryness of the eyes and a sensation in the morning as if a foreign body were pressing in it. Pressure as from sand in the eye when reading. Pressive pain in the eyes as if there were heat in them. Burning and itching in the eyes, that provoke rubbing and scratching. Sulphur: Watering in the morning followed by dryness. Redness of the eyes during the day. Burning of the lids which are inflamed, red and tense on eye movement. Smarting pains as from dryness of the margins of the lids. In the morning, on awakening, feeling of sand in the eyes, with raw pain on rubbing them. The eyes can scarcely endure the light at all in the evening. Burning of the eyes with great sensitivity to light. Severe cutting pains in the eyes. Stitches as if a knife in the eye. Veratrum: Full, pressing, heavy feeling in the eyes, with a slight headache. Severe shooting, suddenly stopping pain in the left eye. Pupils dilated. Photophobia and vertigo, relieved by closing eyes and resting. According to Dr. McGuire it is an important remedy related to menstrual irregularities. Zincum: Agglutination of the inner canthus in the morning, with a pressing sore feeling. Inflammation and redness of the conjunctiva (Mucous membrane which lines outer surface of the eyeball). Suppuration (Producing pus) in the inner canthus. Eyes are painful in the evening and at night, as from sand, with frequent watering. Inflammation of the eyes during menses. Itching and sticking pain in the inner angles of the eyes, with cloudiness of sight. Constant burning in the eyes with a feeling of dryness. Hot scalding tears. Tickling in the eye as from dust. Other rubrics which may be of help: EYE, DRYNESS, afternoon, sleep; after: Magnesium muriaticum EYE, DRYNESS, looking at bright light: Manganum aceticum EYE, DRYNESS, menses, during: Magnesium carbonicum EYE, DRYNESS, warm room: Pulsatilla EYE, DRYNESS, canthi: Nux vomica Remedies associated with menopause and dry eyes are: Arg- n, Bell, Croc, Cycl, Graph, Mang, Nux-m, Nux-v, Puls, Sang, Sep, Sulph, and Verat. |
 |
