|
 
 |
| CASE REPORT |
|
| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 3 | Page : 206-210 |
|
Evidence-based Homoeopathy: A case of corneal abscess
Sandeep Sudhakar Sathye
Department of Homoeopathy, Sathye Eye Research Institute for Alternative Medicines, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Web Publication | 11-Aug-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Sandeep Sudhakar Sathye
Plot No. 4, Sadanand Nagar, Anand Nagar, Hingne (Khurd), Sinhagad Road, Pune - 411 051, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-7168.188242
Corneal abscess is a circumscribed collection of pus within the layers of cornea. It is usually endogenous in origin and commonly found near the limbal blood vessels close to corneal margin. Treatment in modern medicine is use of local and systemic antibiotics. Homoeopathy has mentioned medicines for corneal abscess. A case reported was a female of 68 years of age suffering from symptoms of redness, dull pain, and foreign body sensation in the right eye and was diagnosed as corneal abscess. The homoeopathic medicine Hepar sulphuris 200C was prescribed on the basis of pathology. Abscess was reduced considerably within 5 days and it was absorbed completely in 21 days. No recurrence of abscess was observed thereafter. Ocular photographs during follow-up visits have provided documentary evidence about the effectiveness of homoeopathic Hepar sulphuris 200C in corneal abscess. Keywords: Case report, Corneal abscess, Hepar sulphuris, Homoeopathy
How to cite this article:
Sathye SS. Evidence-based Homoeopathy: A case of corneal abscess. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2016;10:206-10 |
| Introduction | |  |
Corneal abscess means a circumscribed collection of pus within the layers of the cornea. [1] It is usually endogenous in origin and commonly found near the limbal blood vessels close to corneal margin. It is a form of marginal keratitis that occurs due to tuberculosis, syphilis, measles, or immunologically-mediated diseases that includes phlyctenular keratitis, acne rosacea, Meibomitis More Details, and blepharitis. [2] Corneal abscess usually extends to the outer surface to discharge the pus, and an ulcer is formed or it may extend in both directions at the same time resulting in perforation of the cornea. [1] Treatment in modern medicine is use of local and systemic antibiotics.
Some patients may have an allergic reaction or a drug resistance to local or systemic antibiotics. Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it is really needed. [3] Homoeopathy has been treating infectious diseases successfully without giving any recurrence since preantibiotics era. In homoeopathy, different medicines were mentioned for corneal abscess, but there was a lack of published case study or a research work with documentary evidence about corneal abscess being treated with homoeopathy.
A case report presented with ocular photographs during follow-up visits has provided documentary evidence about the effectiveness of homoeopathic treatment in corneal abscess.
| Case Report | | |
History
A female aged 68 years presented on February 17, 2013, to the outpatient department of institute with the complaints of redness of the right eye for 10 days and mild pain, mild foreign body sensation with glaring of light throughout the day for 5 days. She had no history of ocular injury, no dental or ear-nose-throat complaints or complaints of any general disease.
Examination
On eye examination, patient's distance vision was normal (6/6 on Snellen's chart) with her own glasses. There was no conjunctival discharge or any abnormality of eyelids. On lifting the upper lid, there was a congestion restricted to the upper quadrant of the cornea and the presence of a corneal abscess which was white and extending from 11 to 12 o'clock position [Figure 1]. | Figure 1: Corneal abscess in the right eye before treatment (dated February 17, 2013)
Click here to view |
Intervention
Homoeopathic medicine Hepar sulphuris in 200C potency was prescribed every 2 hourly for 2 days on the basis of pathology.
Follow-up and Outcomes
On February 18, 2013, there was a reduction of pain and foreign body sensation in the eye. On eye examination, vision was normal with glasses, and there was a reduction in area of corneal abscess, so the medicine was continued with the same dose for 2 days.
On February 21, 2013, there was only occasional foreign body sensation while glaring of light has reduced. On eye examination, vision was not affected and there was a considerable reduction in area and density of corneal abscess as well as ocular congestion [Figure 2]. The same medicine was continued four times a day.
On February 25, 2013, there was no foreign body sensation and glaring of light in the eye. On eye examination, there was no congestion and abscess has further reduced [Figure 3]. The same medicine was continued twice a day.
On March 2, 2013, the patient had no symptoms and abscess was in a resolving stage [Figure 4]. Hence, the medicine was continued further for 7 days.
On March 9, 2013, there were no ocular symptoms and corneal abscess was absorbed completely, so the medicine was discontinued [Figure 5].
On March 30, 2013, the eye was normal and there was no recurrence of abscess [Figure 6]. | Figure 5: Corneal abscess absorbed completely after treatment (dated March 9, 2013)
Click here to view |
 | Figure 6: No recurrence of corneal abscess during follow-up (dated March 30, 2013)
Click here to view |
The patient was contacted through phone after 1 month, and she had no ocular complaints. Patient was examined in June 2015, there were no ocular complaints and the eye was normal on examination [Table 1]. The patient was contacted through phone in January 2016 and had no ocular complaints thereafter. | Table 1: Timeline of patient response and medicine prescribed with its dose
Click here to view |
| Discussion | | |
A systemic use of homoeopathic Hepar sulphuris 200C has achieved a considerable reduction in corneal abscess within 5 days and its resolution in 21 days.
Abscess was restricted to the upper quadrant of cornea below the lid and there was no history of ocular injury or any associated ocular disease, so cause of abscess might be due to some systemic low-grade infection rather than of exogenous origin.
Hepar sulphuris has probably acted on endogenous infection apart from its action on corneal abscess as there was no recurrence thereafter. In this case, abscess being restricted to the stromal layers of cornea, a systemic route of treatment was preferred instead of giving local treatment.
Homoeopathic medicines mentioned for corneal abscess in the literature were as follows with their gradation:
- Cornea - abscess of: Calc-s., Hep., Kali-s., Merc-c., Sil., Sulph [4]
- Corneal abscess: Calc. hy., Fe. ph., HEP., Merc., Rhus., Sil., Sulph[5]
- Cornea - abscess: Calc. hypo., Hepar., Merc. cor., Sil., Sulph. [1]
However, these medicines are indicated for corneal abscess in general that includes infection of exogenous or endogenous origin or infection from neighboring ocular tissue. Out of above medicines, Hepar sulphuris seems to have more similarity to this case as it has a specific affinity for cornea in general [6] and corneal abscess in particular. Tendency for suppuration is a strong-guiding symptom of Hepar sulphuris as mentioned in books. Hepar sulphuris is indicated for infected corneal ulcer which is exogenous in origin and for parenchymatous keratitis and suppurative choroiditis that are usually endogenous in origin. [4] Hence, Hepar sulphuris covers corneal infection of both endogenous and exogenous origins. Norton AB has specifically mentioned in his book that "Hepar sulphuris is one of the most frequently indicated remedies for ulcers and abscesses of the cornea, especially for the deep-sloughing form." [1] Hepar sulphuris is usually prescribed when the intensity of symptom is severe. In this case, corneal abscess was intrastromal, so symptoms were not as severe as they occur with an infected corneal ulcer. Hepar sulphuris was mainly prescribed on the basis of pathology as an abscess and prescription was not based on any characteristic particular symptom. Hence, even though the patient had no severe pain, it was prescribed and resulted in complete resolution of abscess.
Hepar sulphuris was used in medium (200C) potency with frequent repetition and not in low potency because there was an acute inflammatory condition of the cornea with recent pathological changes that were reversible in nature. Second, patient had only ocular symptoms with no obvious general complaints that show a moderate vitality or susceptibility in a patient. Third, Hepar sulphuris has action on abscess in general and corneal abscess in particular. Hence, more the similarity of medicine to the affected part, more will be the susceptibility of a patient for medicine, and higher will be the potency required. [7] Finally, the aim of treatment was to absorb the abscess internally and not to promote further suppuration so as to prevent opening of an abscess externally with an added risk of exogenous infection. Abscess was absorbed considerably within 5 days with no untoward effects that indicate correct selection of potency for this case.
A spontaneous or natural resolution of abscess is not a possibility in this case as majority of abscess has resolved within 5 days of treatment [Figure 3]. Norton AB has mentioned that "as a rule, corneal abscess does not heal by itself but more and more parenchyma is destroyed, and if in a rare case, it heals by itself it begins by formation of new blood vessels in the cornea." In this patient, no new blood vessels were seen on cornea during healing stage of an abscess. Similarly, no reference in modern literature mentions a natural resolution of abscess. Patient had done no alteration in diet or regimen and no axillary line of treatment was suggested. Similarly, another case of corneal abscess in an old woman was treated successfully by me with Hepar sulphuris in the year 2014. All these points go in favor of resolution of an abscess by medicine.
In this case, abscess was intrastromal without actual ulceration of cornea and was located at its periphery, so there was no corneal scarring and vision was not affected during follow-up visits.
Absorption of corneal abscess was a top priority in this case as well as there were no obvious signs and symptoms of general disease, so a systemic homoeopathic treatment was started immediately without going for any investigation. However, in future cases, detailed investigations will be carried out to find out the root cause of corneal abscess.
The intention to present this case was that Hepar sulphuris even though has been mentioned in homoeopathic literature for corneal abscess, published case report about its effect was lacking. Ocular photographs taken during follow-up visits have provided valid evidence about its effectiveness in corneal abscess. Hence, physicians can use Hepar sulphuris 200C in their clinical practice to treat patients suffering from intrastromal corneal abscess.
| Conclusion | | |
A case report presented with ocular photographic evidence directs to positive role of effectiveness of homoeopathic medicine Hepar sulphuris 200C in corneal abscess. However, case series/clinical trials are required to substantiate the results of Hepar sulphuris in corneal abscess.
Financial Support and Sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of Interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
| 1. | Norton AB. Ophthalmic Diseases and Therapeutics. 3 rd ed. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 1987. p. 261-2, 627.  |
| 2. | Sihota R, Tandon R. editors. Parsons' Diseases of the Eye. 20 th ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; 1984. p. 186-97. |
| 3. | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. FAQ's. Available from: http://www.health.mo.gov/safety/antibioticresistance/faq.php.[Last accessed 2016 Jan 10] |
| 4. | Boericke W. Boericke's New Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 2011. p. 636. |
| 5. | Moffat JL. Homoeopathic Therapeutics in Ophthalmology. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 1995. p. 137. |
| 6. | Boger CM. Boenninghausen's Characteristic and Repertory. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 1987. p. 310. |
| 7. | Close S. Genius of Homoeopathy. Reprint Edition. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.; 1984. p. 183-211. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6]
[Table 1]
|
Search Pubmed for