Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Abstract

Homeopathic Medicine as an Exacerbating Factor of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Prakash Gunjan, Jain Shephali, Bajaj Leena, Prakash Shikha and Bist HK

Title: Homeopathic medicine as an exacerbating factor of central serous chorioretinopathy.
Purpose: To investigate the relationship between steroid-containing homeopathic medicines and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).
Materials and methods: A retrospective evaluation of 102 cases of CSCR presenting over a period of 5 years was performed. Patients receiving homeopathic medications were identified.
Results: Three patients with active CSCR reported using homeopathic medicines for hemorrhoids. The medications had been taken for 4 months, 3 months and one and one-half months before the patients presented to the eye clinic. In each case the medicine was discontinued and the CSCR resolved completely within 4 to 6 weeks. Two patients who restarted the same homeopathic medicine developed recurrent CSCR within 4 weeks. The CSCR again resolved upon discontinuing the homeopathic medicine.
Conclusions: Popular homeopathic drugs used for the treatment of hemorrhoids contain steroids. Though the effect of these medications on CSCR is unclear, patients with active CSCR may be counseled to discontinue these medications.