Chapter 23 The eye
Inflammation of the eye
Inflammation may be a result of an allergic reaction, infection or irritation due to dust or particles. Simple irritation of the eye can be treated with an eye lotion or drops, usually containing either extract of witch hazel (see Chapter 22), or the herb eyebright.
Eyebright, euphrasia officinalis L. and E. rostkoviana hayne (euphrasiae herba)
Euphrasia spp. (Scrophulariaceae) have a long history of use in eye disorders, as the name would suggest. The herb is found in meadows and grassy places throughout Europe and temperate Asia. The leaves are opposite near the base and alternate above, about 1 cm long, lanceolate, with four or five teeth on each side; the axillary flowers are two-lipped, small and white, often tinged with purple or with a yellow spot.
Constituents
Eyebright contains iridoid glycosides, such as aucubin, geniposide, catalpol, luproside, eurostoside, euphroside, veronicoside, verproside and others; lignans, including coniferyl glucosides and eukovoside; tannins; and polyphenolic acids, including gallic, caffeic and ferulic acids.
Therapeutic uses and available evidence
Extract of Euphrasia is a traditional remedy for disorders of the eye such as conjunctivitis. Practically no clinical studies have been carried out, but single-dose eye drops containing extracts of the herb were evaluated in a clinical prospective cohort trial for conjunctivitis, and efficacy and tolerability were deemed ‘good to very good’ by both patients and physicians (Stoss et al 2000). Overall, the evidence for beneficial effects is very limited.
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