Sore Eyes Of Infants

Inflammation of the eyes and eyelids in young infants may lead to more serious disease.

In most instances, only the lids become inflamed. In other cases, neglecting to treat the lids, may result in the spread of this disease to the eye-balls.

The most common causes of this affection are: infection from the discharges of the mother, exposure of the eyes to too strong a light, or from taking cold by exposing the child to a draft of air, etc.

If the discharge from the eyes is at all profuse the affection may be of a very dangerous kind and the eyes may be lost.

Virulent ophthalmia of infants is highly contagious, as in conjunctivitis. The eyes must be kept clean with warm water, washing them out often when any pus collects.

The following homeopathic remedies will generally remove this disorder:

Aconite: It should be given first, especially if the inflammation arises from exposure of the eyes to too much light; and the entire eye becomes red, and discharges a good deal.

Belladonna: Belladonna, after Aconite, when the whites of the eyes are very red; with bleeding from the eyelids; intolerance of light, etc.

Chamomilla : Chamomilla when the eyelids are swollen, bleed, and are glued together in the morning with a yellowish secretion.

Mercurius solubilis : Mercurius when there is redness of the eyes and eyelids; small yellowish ulcers along the margins of the lids; with discharge of yellowish matter.

Pulsatilla when there is profuse discharge of purulent matter from the eyes, with redness of the whole eye and interior of the lids.

Argentum nitricum: Argentum nitricum is of the most importance when there is a profuse discharge of creamy pus; the eyelids are very much swollen.
Calcarea carbonica and Rhus are also useful.

Source : Domestic physician by Hering