"Of All Sense Organs, Eye is The Most Important!"

Is a branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system, surrounding structures of eye and visual system can affected by the number clinical conditions.

Ayurveda has the specialized branch in Ophthalmology named as Shalakya Tantra. It describes in detail the diagnosis and treatment of 76 diseases of the eye. The time tested scientific approach of Ayurveda provides optimum rejuvenation to the retina and optic nerves. Ayurveda believes that all eye diseases are caused by an imbalance in the doshas and accordingly the treatment also aims to maintain the balance of the doshas. Our eyes are the most important organs we have in contact with the world around us. Many believe that eyes are a window to our soul. We need to protect them and take care of these delicate organs. Ayurveda explains that Pita dosha – fire and light, controls our eyes. This dosha absorbs images and colors, allowing us to see. When it is in balance, our eyes are healthy, radiant and see clearly. However, if it gets worse, we may experience unnecessary anger, impotence, and liver problems. The best cure is to keep the dosha dosha calm with proper food and daily meditation. Ayurvedic science offers many natural, safe and effective eye care techniques.

Following are commonly found diseases of the eye that can be managed with Ayurveda.

Refractive Errors

A refractive error is a very common eye disorder. The four most common refractive errors are:
1. Myopia (near sightedness): difficulty in seeing distant objects clearly;
2. Hyperopia (far sightedness): difficulty in seeing close objects clearly;
3. Astigmatism: distorted vision resulting from an irregularly curved cornea, the clear covering of the eyeball.
4. Presbyopia: which leads to difficulty in reading or seeing at arm's length, it is linked to ageing and occurs almost universally.
Ayurveda has rejuvenating medicines that neutralize the effect of today’s stressed life style over eyes, strengthening eye muscles, making lens material elastic and thus correcting refractive errors, But there is a limitation to the above said result. The stressed life style has to be avoided till the treatment continues for refractive corrections. Eye exercises and Ayurvedic procedures are found to be supportive in correcting refractive errors in children between age group of 5-13. Once a permanent mechanical change develops in the shape of eye ball, then it is not possible to reverse the changes. Hence the cases with early diagnosis, less damage, healthy life style and reduced eye stress respond better than the cases with late diagnosis, more damage and stressed life style.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia also called lazy eye, is a disorder of sight in which the brain fails to process inputs from one eye and over time favours the other eye.It results in decreased vision in an eye that otherwise typically appears normal. Amblyopia is the most common cause of decreased vision in a single eye among children and younger adults. Early detection offers a better chance for a cure. Lazy eye can be treated quite successfully under the age of 2. This can be done by even glasses, eye patches, etc. However, it is difficult to treat with such simple measures in older children. . Ayurveda is all about the mind body connection, and it is this connection that gets slack in anomalies like a lazy eye.

The ayurvedic interpretation of the neurological system involves a root, also called Mula, a pathway through the body also called Marga and an opening, also known as Mukha. Each of these is known as channels also known as strotas which help to orient our focus to various stimuli including visual stimuli. Ayurvedic remedies help to restore this balance in these channels with the help of Herbs and Asanas. Ayurveda also takes into account the mental constitution of individuals since different mental constitutions call for a different treatment approach. Take Away Despite being no immediate solution for the lazy eye, this condition can be potently cured with ayurvedic treatment. However, it is always advisable to consult an ayurvedic specialist before going for any of ayurvedic treatment.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina leading to leakage of blood. These changes finally lead to a group of symptoms like blurred vision, floaters in the field of vision, seeing black spots in the field of vision and sometimes sudden loss of vision of one or both eyes. There can be macular oedema also that can lead to a sharp reduction of vision.

Ayurvedic treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy which is now available in Jaipur in India can be better than the conventional systems as the treatment is non invasive, natural in nature and has a long-lasting effect.

Myopic Degeneration

In this condition, myopia rapidly progresses so that in early adult life there may be myopia of 6 D or more. Pathologic myopes are at high risk for retinal detachment and macular changes. This is caused by separation of the retina as a result of abnormal elongation of the eyeball. This will cause a varying amount of blurred vision. There develops a tractional force over the retina due to its anatomical shape which ultimately can lead to retinal tear either in the form of small retinal holes or a big retinal detachment. Ayurvedic Eye Treatment provides strengthening to the retina and hence the wear and tear can be prevented. The progressive increase in the power of the glasses can also be prevented. Some positive improvement in the vision can also be expected with Ayurveda Eye Treatment.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders with various signs and the symptoms in which the optic nerves are gradually damaged due to the increased eye pressure. The damage in the optic nerves can cause permanent reduction in the side (peripheral) vision and ultimately the blindness. Other signs and symptoms may be the pain in the eyes, watering from the eyes and difficulty to face light (photophobia). Glaucoma is such a disease in which there occurs weakening of the optic nerves progressively that can finally lead to blindness. In Ayurveda eye treatment, there are certain therapies by which we can strengthen the damaged optic nerves and vision can be stabilized. There can be a possibility of some improvement also in vision.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age Related Macular degeneration is a medical condition usually of older adults that results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of visual impairment in the elderly. Ideal treatment in Ayurveda for age-related macular degeneration is targeted at 2 levels. First is to strengthen the retinal cells and second is to prevent the leakage from the weakened blood vessels by improving their strength. These two targets can be well achieved by means of Ayurveda therapies.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic eye conditions. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. RP is a type of progressive retinal dystrophy, a group of inherited disorders in which abnormalities of the photoreceptors (rods and cones) or the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) of the retina lead to progressive visual loss. There is no sure shot remedy for this dreadful disease in any system of medicine. Ayurvedic eye treatment can provide some relief by doing the overall cleansing of the body using the powerful Ayurveda and panchakarma therapies like Virechan, Nasya, abhyanga, Netradhara, Tharpana, and many others. Apart from this, the natural and herbal Rasayana medicines can strengthen the overall health of the patient including retinal tissue. There is also a role of the Ayurveda herbal eye drops in the management of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

Dry Eye

Dry eye is simply reduced moisture or the lubrication inside the eyes. There are many reasons for dry eyes starting from excessive use of electronic gadgets like tv, mobile and computer screen to unhealthy eating habits and disturbed sleep patterns.

Ayurvedic eye treatment can improve the quality as well as the quantity of the tears maintaining the normal environment of the eyes. Ayurveda medicines and therapies along with ayurvedic eye drop for dry eyes can prevent the further recurrence and relapse of the disease leading to a permanent cure.

Uveitis

Uveitis is an autoimmune disease having a variety of symptoms sometimes mistaken as dry eye or eye allergy or conjunctivitis or acute stage of glaucoma. There is no specific cause of the disease but a number of factors can aggravate it.

Ayurveda eye treatment for uveitis comprises of detoxification of the cellular toxicity leading to alteration of positive psychology of the cells which ultimately leads to a reduction in the inflammatory reaction. The recurrent nature of the disease requires rigid changes in lifestyle and food habits as per the positive guidance of your consultant.

Cataract

Cataract in the eye is a thick, cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye. The retina works by converting light coming through the lens into signals. Cataract is common in the elderly. If a person is over 60 and eyesight has become blurred or blurred, this may be due to cataracts. With age-related cataracts, the power of the lens may increase, causing myopia (near sightedness). Cataract usually progresses slowly to lead to loss of vision and is potentially blinding if left untreated. Usually it affects both eyes, but one eye is always affected earlier than the other.

If started at an early stage, cataract treatment in Ayurveda is very effective. During Ayurvedic treatment the goal is to reduce the deteriorated body energy and nourish and strengthen the nerves and tissues of the eye.