Inflammation of the cornea is known as Keratitis. The cornea is a transparent layer in front of the eye that covers the pupil and iris. Keratitis can be infectious or non-infectious. Homeopathic medicines help reduce the inflammation of the cornea and offer symptomatic relief. Belladonna, Apis Mellifica, and Arsenic Album are the top homeopathic medicines used to treat keratitis.

Homeopathic medicines for Keratitis.

The primary cause of infectious keratitis is a bacterial infection (mostly that causes gonorrhea), a viral infection (mainly herpes simplex and herpes zoster) or a parasitic infection. Non – infectious keratitis can result from a foreign body in the eye or some scratch or injury to the cornea. Wearing contact lenses for very long hours (especially wearing them overnight), use of corticosteroid eye drops, a compromised immune system, exposure to intense sunlight, and exposure to bacteria, fungi and parasites found in rivers, lakes while swimming can put a person at risk to develop keratitis.

Homeopathic Treatment of Keratitis

Homeopathic medicines play a supportive role in keratitis and can be used along with conventional treatment for effective relief from symptoms like pain, burning, and discharge. Homeopathic medicines for keratitis are prescribed on the basis of individual symptom set in every case. Symptoms that can be managed with homeopathic medicines include redness of the eye, pain in the eye, blurred or dim vision, photophobia (sensitivity to light), lachrymation or discharge from eyes and the sensation of a foreign particle in the eye.

Homeopathic Medicines for Keratitis

Belladonna – Natural Medicine for Red, Congested Eyes in Keratitis

Belladonna is a natural homeopathic medicine prepared from the whole plant named ‘Deadly Nightshade.’ This plant belongs to the natural order Solanaceae. Use of Belladonna is recommended in cases where the eyes are red and congested. A pressing or sharp pain may be felt in the eyes. Pain may radiate from eyes to the back of the head. Eye pain worsens from movement, and there may be an intolerance to light. The person feels heat in the eyes. Dimness of sight and obscured vision may be present, and a gritty sensation, as of sand particles are present in the in eyes may also occur.

Apis Mellifica – Effective Homeopathic Medicine for Pain in Eyes in Keratitis

Apis Mellifica is a natural remedy for treating pain in eyes due to keratitis. The key features for using Apis Mellifica include pain in the eye that may be stinging, tearing, lancinating or shooting in nature. Sometimes the eye pain is sore, pressing, tensive or boring. Burning and smarting sensation in the eyes is also felt. The cornea becomes thick and may have dark, smoky, greyish spots on it. Sensitivity to light with a headache, eye pain that gets worse from exposure to light, eyes that look bright red, weakness of vision, a sensation of fullness in eyes, and hot, scalding discharge from the eyes are other significant symptoms.

Arsenic Album – Effective Homeopathic Remedy for Burning Pain in Eyes

Arsenic Album is a well-indicated remedy for keratitis when there is a specific burning pain in eyes. The pains appear suddenly and get worse during the night. There is a copious discharge of an acrid, hot nature. There may be pulsations and throbbing in the eyes, along with weakness and dimness of sight. Sensitivity to light (mainly to sunlight) is present along with the above symptoms. This medicine is also indicted for ulcers on the outer side of the cornea. In such cases, a prickling needle-like pain is felt in the eyes.

Euphrasia – Natural Treatment for Profuse Watering from the Eyes

Euphrasia is a homeopathic medicine for keratitis prepared from the plant Euphrasia Officinalis, also known as Eye-Bright. The natural order of this plant is Scrophulariaceae. Euphrasia is very useful in cases of keratitis where there is profuse lachrymation, i.e. watering from the eyes. Secretion of tears is significantly increased, and the lachrymation is burning, smarting and excoriating in nature. The vision gets dimmed, and there is a peculiar sensation of having dust, hair or sand in the eyes. Euphrasia is also indicated for kerato-iritis that develops after injuries and surgical operations upon the eye. In such cases, there are stitching pains in eyes, acrid lachrymation, and intense photophobia. This medicine is also indicated where the cornea is ulcerated with large quantities of thick, clear mucus. The border of the cornea is surrounded by a small superficial ulcer. Eye pain that is worse in the daylight is usually present.

Phosphorus – Effective Medicine for Blurred Vision due to Keratitis

Phosphorus is a natural medicine for blurred, dim vision due to keratitis. There is a dull pain in the eyes along with dim vision. There is a sensation as if everything is covered with a mist. The person requiring Phosphorus also suffers from sensitivity to light. In some cases, there is a pressing or burning pain in the eyes. There may be a feeling of sand in the eye that gets better by rubbing.

Calcarea Carb – Natural Treatment for Keratitis with Photophobia (light sensitivity)

Calcarea Carb is a homeopathic remedy for photophobia (light sensitivity) in cases of keratitis. Photophobia is mostly worse in the morning upon rising and in the evening. Along with this, there may be a stinging pain in the eyes. Other symptoms include sticking of the eyelids together in the morning, dimness of vision, pressure and tearing or stitching pain in the eyes, and pain that worsens in the evening. Excessive lachrymation in the morning is present. It may get worse in the open air. Pustules on the cornea with lachrymation and excessive photophobia are also indicative of Calcarea Carb.

Pulsatilla – Natural Cure for Keratitis with Eye Discharge

Pulsatilla is a homeopathic cure for eye discharges in keratitis prepared from the fresh plant Pulsatilla Nigricans. This plant belongs to the natural order Ranunculaceae. Pulsatilla offers help in cases of keratitis with prominent eye discharges. Burning and itching in the eyes, a need to rub the eyes, marked sticking of eyelids in the morning, oversensitivity to light with stitching pain in the eyes are some symptoms indicating the need for Pulsatilla. It is also considered in cases of pustule formation on the cornea with excessive photophobia, pain in the eyes, and watering of eyes.

Merc Sol – Effective Medicine for Pain in the Eyes due to Keratitis

Homeopathic medicine Merc Sol helps treat congestion and pain in the eyes in cases of keratitis. There is pain present both during the day as well as night. There may be a sensation of heat in the in eyes with watering. The vision may become weak and dim. The cornea becomes red and is surrounded by a puffy swelling. There is usually a burning sensation present in the open air.

Arnica and Calendula – Natural Treatment for Keratitis due to Cornea Injury

Arnica and Calendula both are natural homeopathic remedies made from plants.
Arnica is prepared from the root of a plant Arnica Montana, which is commonly known as Leopard’s Bane.
Calendula is prepared from leaves and flowers of the plant Calendula Officinalis, more commonly known as Marigold. Both these plants belong to the natural order Compositae. These are prominently indicated for keratitis that follows a scratch or abrasion of the cornea. They help reduce inflammation of the eye and heal the injury quickly.

Hepar Sulph – Homeopathic Remedy for Advanced Keratitis with Corneal Ulcer

Hepar Sulph is a natural remedy that plays a supportive role in the symptomatic management of cases of advanced keratitis with corneal ulceration. The key indication to use this remedy is a red, vascular, elevated ulcer at the margin of the cornea. There is a discharge of purulent mucus from the ulcer. Photophobia, redness, and pain in the eyes that extends to the side of the head, a burning, pressing pain that is worse from exposure to a draught of air may also be present.

Symptoms of Keratitis

The symptoms of keratitis include redness of the eye, pain in the eye, blurred or dim vision, photophobia (sensitivity to light), excessive tears, discharge from eyes, a sensation of a foreign particle in the eye (gritty sensation). If left untreated, keratitis can cause complications like a corneal ulcer, corneal scarring, vision reduction and permanent vision loss (blindness).