Eye Diseases Causes, Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Treatment,

Herbs
https://www.easyayurveda.com/2018/10/12/eye-diseases/amp/

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Habits like binge watching videos, endless scrolling of facebook,
instagram feeds is
rampant nowadays. Eyes are affected the most, apart from the brain, mind, wrists
and thumbs.

Table of Contents

Eye
Common causes

Classical reference
Pathogenesis

Premonitory Symptoms

Symptoms
Treatment principles

Procedures, applications
Medicinal ghees

Studies

Eye

Eye is dominated by fire element and Pitta Dosha. Most of the Pitta aggravating
causes lead to eye disorders. Tears are considered as one of the natural urges which
should not be suppressed.

Common causes

Causes for eye disorders: Netra Roga Nidana:

eye disorders. The combination of
The below mentioned are the causative factors of
one or more of these factors may lead to wide array of eye disorders. More the
causative factors more the severity and complexity of eye disorders. The knowledge
of the causes of eye disorders helps us to avoid these factors and hence protect our
eyes from damage and disorders.
Entering into water (swimming pool, bath tub, shower etc) after getting exposed
to the heat of Sun

Trying hard to see far off objects which are beyond the visual field (strains the
eye)
Variations in sleep patterns like ‘sleeping in the day’ and ‘keeping awake during
night times’

Excessive and continued weeping (crying, sobbing)

Anger in excess
Excess grief

Strain (physical, mental and eye strain)

Injuries to the eye

Excessive indulgence in sexual intercourse

 Excessive consumption of sour fermented liquids and foods predominant in
sour taste
Excessive consumption of horse gram

Excessive consumption of black gram

Forcible obstruction (withholding) of body reflexes

Excessive sweating

Excessive smoking
Forcible controlling the vomiting reflux or impulse

Excessive administration of Vamana (therapeutic emesis, part of Panchakarma

treatments)
Forcibly withholding the ‘tear’ reflex

Constantly viewing of minute objects

Read related: Anatomy of Eye: Netra Rachana: Ayurveda Perspective

Excess fomentation to the eye
Excess exposure of eye to smoke
or excess smoking
Suppressing urge of vomiting

Vamana therapy done excessively

Suppressing tears

Exposure to dust

Excess travelling

Not following regimens according to season

Exposing head to excess heat

Excess of liquid diet

Excess intake of alcohol

Eleeping head lower position than body

Eleeping by placing head in upward position
than body.
Excess fever

Excess eye exposing to bright light

Excess walking in bare foot or foot
massage with hot oils or water.
References: Sushruta Samhita, Uttaratantra 1st chapter

Bhavaprakasha Uttara Khanda.

Classical reference
Pathogenesis

Samprapti or pathogenesis of Eye Disorders

The vitiated Doshas travel through the Siras (blood vessels) and reach the upper
parts of the body. On reaching there they afflict the eye and cause dreadful diseases
therein.

Premonitory Symptoms

Aavila Netrata – Dirtiness of the eyes (dirty appearance)

Samrambha Netrata – Redness of the eye with little pain

Ashru – Excessive tearing of the eye, lacrimation

Kandu – Itching in the eyes

Upadeha – Collection of dirt in the body, sticky secretions leading to stickiness of

the eyelids
Guru – Heaviness of the eyes due to Kapha vitiation
 Oosha – Heat or burning pain in the eyes due to Pitta Vitiation
Toda – Pricking pain due to Vata vitiation

Raga – Redness due to Rakta vitiation

Shula Vartma Kosheshu – Pain in the eye lids

Shooka poornaabham iva – Feeling as if the paddy husk has been filled in the
eyes, causing irritation

Roopa Hananam – Destruction / Dimness of vision

Kriyaa Hananam – Disturbance of eye functions including perception

These symptoms are manifested in feeble form in the stage of Purvarupas. When
these symptoms are feebly manifested, the wise physician should sense that the eye
disease will be manifested in near future and take necessary precautions to prevent
them.
Read
– Watery Eyes: Causes, Ayurvedic Treatment, Remedies

Symptoms

Symptoms (Lakshana) of Eye Diseases

The same symptoms which have been mentioned in the PoorvaRupas (premonitory
symptoms) are manifested in a magnified version in Lakshana.

Treatment principles

Treatment of Eye Disorders have been strategically covered in two stages –

Sankshipta Chikitsa or Nidana Parivarjana – Avoidance of causative factors is the

best strategy of treatment of eye disorders (any disease in fact). This strategy shall
be followed in healthy conditions, in those prone to get eye disorders and those
exhibiting the premonitory symptoms of eye disease (enlisted above). This is also
considered as Sankshipta (easy and simple) form of treatment.

Dosha-Vyadhi Pratighaata or Vistaara Chikitsa – When the disease has been

manifested specific dosha-alleviating and disease-modifying treatments should be
done along with effective medicines and immune-modulators. This form of
treatment is also called as Vistaara Chikitsa or treatment in depth. This involves
strategic step ladder pattern of combating and curing a disease including effective
treatments, medicines, lifestyle changes etc.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)

Dr Renita adds,
Ayurveda considers eye as an important organ of vision which is the seat of pitta
dosha, allows us to leverage the beauty of our surroundings. They keep us safe and
gives understanding of the world to us.
As a working machine which, on long run get its parts worn out similarly our sense
organ get fatigued when it is used in excess or just due to aging process. Among all
sense organs eye should be treated with utmost care as it is exposed continuously
for extreme light, heat, pollution etc.
Read – Dacryocystitis Causes, Symptoms,
Treatment, Ayurveda Home Remedies

Ancient science of Ayurveda have described 1000 years back about eye structure,
functions, disorders, treatment, preventive measure and its utmost care which is
more relevant to the current lifestyle that we have adapted. Increased use of
smartphones, laptops, TV, binge watching tv shows endlessly etc without which we
cannot imagine our life have definite adverse effect on our eye sight in early ages
itself. Today lets explore this information to adopt healthy life style and remedy to
improve eyesight.
Read – Ayurvedic
Daily Routine

Procedures, applications

Remedies for eye disorders

Anjana (collyrium application)
–

Sauviranjana made of antimony is mentioned
It can be done daily for healthy eyes.
to be applied daily and rasanjana aqueous extract of Berberis aristata should be
applied once in a week. It drains excess kapha out from the eye thereby helps to
keep vision clear. Strong collyrium (eye lining) should be applied only in night.
Read related – Procedure, Indications And Benefits Of Anjana Application
And
Aschotana

Ashchothana (Herbal eye drops) – Mainly used to prevent pain, redness, itching,
dryness, irritation in eye. Here medicated drops are put into eyes from 2 inch above.
Medicines

Decoction of Triphala powder.

Breast milk can be used in dryness, stiffness, redness of eye, usually used in
imbalance of vata and pitta, any eye diseases due to vitiated blood.

Ghee is used in eye disorders due to imbalance of vata and pitta.

Amalaki juice usually effective in eye disease due to pitta imbalance etc
Pada abhyanga (foot massage) –
It helps to maintain and improve good eye sight.
Oils used for massage :
Coconut oil
Sesame oil
Mahanarayana oil – one of the most versatile herbal oil used for eye care, gargling,
oil pulling, oil massage etc.
Khsheera bala Taila etc
Read – Foot massage: Ayurvedic Benefits, How To Do, Importance

External application
Pindi

Medicated paste is applied over thin cloth and kept over eyes.
Medicines used –

Paste of Triphala powder

Paste Neem leaves relieves
pitta related eye diseases etc

Bidalaka
Medicated
paste is applied over closed eye lids.
Paste of sandalwood helps soothe the eyes, used
mainly in pita cause eye diseases.
Paste of pomegranate leaves.

Read related: Ayurveda Eye

Treatment Types, Methods – Astanga Hrudaya
Sutrasthana 23
Nasya (medicine instilled through nose) –

above shoulders. Dhooma nasya
This helps to treat all diseases related to organs
nasal instillation of medicated fumes is indicated in eye disorders.
Medicines used for nasya:

which can be used daily for nasya in healthy person
Anu Taila – It is best medicine
to maintain and improve eye sight. It also helps to strengthen the muscles of eye on
daily practice.
Shadbindu Taila
– Sharpens eye sight.
Ksheerabala 101 – Used in neurological
disorders, cataract, earache, headache etc
Read – How To Do Ayurvedic Nasya Treatment At Home? Nasal Drops For Long

Life

Prakshalana – Eye wash with medicated liquid

Decoction prepared from Triphala powder is used frequently for 10 – 15 times in

a day helps to relieve from eye infection, itching, irritation etc.

Elderberry 1 teaspoon added to half cup of water acts as soothing eye wash.

Tarpana

Best Ayurvedic therapy used in disease of eye and vision. It nourishes eye and cure
eye disease mainly due to imbalance of vata and pitta, relieve stiffness of eye,
dryness , deviation of eyeball, glaucoma, falling of eye lases etc

Medicines used for tarpana

Triphala Ghritha

Jeevanthyadi Ghritha

Ghritha manda (supernatant layer of ghee or medicated ghee) etc

Read – Netra Tarpana Treatment For Eye Care: Benefits, How To
Do?

Medicinal ghees

Palliative medicine to prevent and cure eye disease:

Triphala Ghritha

Maha Triphala Ghritha

Bhrami Ghritha

Saptamrit Lauh

Triphala Guggulu

Jeevanthyadi Ghritha
Amalaki Rasayana – Classical Ayurvedic medicine mainly used improve eye health,
relieves eye strain, double vision, blurred vision etc
Chyavanprasha etc
Read – Nasya Karma Procedure, Types, Benefits, Contra Indications

Studies

Related Research

Research done by American Optometric Association have found adding certain eye
friendly nutrients to your food can help preserve your eye vision (1)

Researchers at  Harvard University have found some evidence that dietary
antioxidant vitamins and minerals (A, C, and E, and the mineral zinc)  are useful to
halt the progression of macular degeneration. (2)
Click to Consult Dr Renita D’Souza