Dry Eye is a condition that develops when there is deficiency in providing adequate lubrication to the eye ball. Incidence of dry eye is very high in working group of people. The reason behind dry eye are various, and so itself, the management also varies accordingly. So, let us consider the reasons first.

Reasons for dry eye:

Moistening of the eye is performed by a thin layer of tear film over the eye ball. This tear film mainly consists of three layers. First is the external most fatty layer. This layer prevents the evaporation of the tear fluid and maintains the lubrication. This is secreted by special glands of the eyelid margin. If this is deficient, either in quality or quantity, the patient feels dryness. There will be stringy discharge and also gritty sensation. Patient experiences as if sand or dust in the eyes, especially in the morning just after waking up. In ayurveda, Vata is the predominant dosha in this condition. The properties of vata such as rooksha, laghu, Sookshma increases. So, Travel, especially on two-wheeler and lack of sleep and working late nights etc will trigger this condition. Also, mental conditions such as stress and strain also will increase the disease.

The second layer, also called middle layer is watery in nature. It is enriched by various electrolytes. This is the real tear fluid secreted by the tear glands – lacrimal glands. If this layer is deficient, there will be high level dryness. There will be burning sensation and hot feeling in the eyes. Also, difficulty to be exposed to bright light and focus on light source. Patient cannot look at illuminating screens like mobiles for a computer or laptop screen for a long time. Here, Pitta is the dominant factor. Any situation which increases the property of pitta such as ushna, theekshna, etc will make the condition worse. So, exposure to bright, directly looking at a source of light, and working in sunlight etc are trigger factors.

The third or innermost layer is mucus in nature and is secreted by glands of the eyelid – mainly sebacious gland. This is the protective layer of cornea. Since cornea is very sensitive and exposed to the external layer, chances of getting infection is more. This mucus layer protects the cornea from being infected and keeps the tear fluid sustained over the cornea. If this layer is inadequate, chances of damage to the corneal cells is high. There will be dryness, redness of the eye and pain. In severe cases, blurring of vision and also headache may develop. In this condition, deficiency of kapha is the considerable factor. Any situation which decreases the vital properties of kapha such as snigdha, seetha, guru etc will increase the pathological condition. So, deficiency in intake of items that supply these gunas will trigger this type of dryness. Starving, missing breakfast, and lack of balanced diet etc are also important contributing factors.

Management of dry eye:

Management varies according to the basis of reasons and dosha dominance mentioned above. If the oily layer is inadequate, the perfect treatment is necessary to activate the glands which produce the oily secretion. In Ayurveda, a systematic line of treatment will serve the purpose. Treatment procedures like Nasyam, Tailadhara, netratharpanam etc are very good. The medicines for these procedures are to be selected by an experienced hand only. Medicated milk and medicated ghee are options. Jeevanthy, vidari, yashti, can be used for medication of ghee and milk.

If the watery layer is deficient, then treatment will be on different principles. Pitta samana and seetha treatment procedures are very helpful. Netra sekam, Aschotanam, Vitalakam, etc are very effective in this situation. But, the medicines for these procedures should be selective for pitta dominance. Oral medicines and food suppliments have a major role in this condition.  Extra occular treatment procedures such as thakradara, sirolepanam, mukhalepanam, thalam etc also are highly effective. A pitta samana and chakshushya menu is also necessary.

If the innermost layer is deficient, it should be handled with extreme care only. There are two aims for treatment when innermost layer is considered. First is to protect the cornea. Second is to produce adequate mucuous secretion. So, the treatment also needs to be done accordingly. Treatments such as Nasyam with Vatasamana medicine is a good option.

Dr P K Santhakumari -Founder
Matha ayurvedic eye hospital
Trivandrum (Kerala)

The post Management of dry eye according to Ayurveda appeared first on Health Vision.

It’s not easy to function with blurry vision. Things in front of you are out of focus, and you can’t see details. Squinting to see correctly is a constant inconvenience. But you can eliminate these complications through blurry vision treatment and preventive care at home. Keep reading to know more about blurry vision and its treatment options.

What is Blurry Vision?

You lose focus and sharpness of your eyes in blurry vision from either one or both eyes. Nearby, far away, or things from all distances may look fuzzy or hazy. This vision problem can be caused due to any underlying eye health issue or other health factors. Therefore visiting your health care provider is the ultimate solution. Meanwhile, let’s look at ways you can control the level of unclear or blurry vision on your own.

Treatment at Home

Here are some natural remedies for eye blurry vision or home care tips, which you should try to improve your day-to-day vision quality.

1. Give Your Eyes a Break

Giving your eyes regular breaks is especially important when reading, doing work on screen, or watching TV. Take some time to view an object which is at a distance. You can also close your eyes for a few minutes. Blinking frequently also helps when you are working on a screen.

2. Take Appropriate Rest

“Rest, sunlight, fresh air, and exercise are some of the best natural and free-of-cost doctors.” Your eyes need proper rest to relax and rejuvenate. Get 7-8 hours of sleep at night, and also try to make time for short naps in day time if you can. Rest is one of the most effective natural treatments for blurry vision.

3. Protect Your Eyes

It’s imperative to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays of the sun, strong winds, dust particles, and infection in the air. Therefore, contrary to popular belief that you only need glares on sunny days, good-quality sunglasses are a must-have accessory whenever you are outdoors in all seasons.

4. Keep Right Lighting Conditions

Reading, working on a screen, or watching TV in bad lighting is a recipe for eye problems. Use proper lighting that is not too bright or dim to prevent eye strain, squinting, and watering. Working in optimum natural light is the best natural remedy to control blurry vision.

5. Stop Smoking

Vision problems and diseases like cataracts, dry eyes, and macular degeneration are linked to underlying health conditions such as diabetes and smoking. Blurry vision can be a symptom of these eye health issues. So avoid smoking or stop it completely to get rid of these eye diseases and infections.

6. Eat Healthy Food

If you don’t eat healthy food as medicine now, you will need to consume medicines as your food in the future. One proven natural cure for blurry vision is eating eye-healthy food rich in zinc, vitamin B1, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acid, etc. Some good examples are fish, carrots, leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes, nuts, eggs, and citrus fruits.

Also Read: Beat the eye strain with healthy & robust food. 

7. Do Eye Exercises

Eye exercises may not cure your eyesight-related issues completely. But they can relax your eye muscle and minimize the strain on your eyes. Therefore there’s no harm in trying eye exercises for blurry vision prevention once in a while.

8. Keep Your Glasses & Contacts Clean

Are you wearing corrective glasses and contacts due to myopia or hyperopia? It would help to keep them clean according to your eye doctor’s instructions. Otherwise, you won’t be able to see through your corrective eyewear correctly. That can be a reason for your blurry vision, which you may not realize. Apart from opting for these natural remedies and treatments at home, you can also take the help of medical science.

9. Take Dietary Supplements

If you think your busy schedule doesn’t allow you to eat healthy regularly, you can pop the supplement, which provides you with eye-friendly nutrients and vitamins. But don’t forget to take your eye doctor’s approval before taking these supplements. This brings us to our next point: regularly visiting your eye doctor for an eye exam.

1o. Get Regular Eye Check-ups

As stated earlier in this article, blurry vision can be a symptom of an underlying disease or infection. You may require urgent treatment to curb the illness or ailment in its initial stage. Therefore if blurry vision is something you experience often, you should visit your eye doctor to overrule any serious cause for it.

In some cases, this vision problem can go on its own. But you should not wait much before approaching your eye doctor for a check-up. Your medical professional should be able to examine you at the earliest, especially if you experience other symptoms like cloudy vision, dizziness, headaches, and blurry vision.

Aaron Barriga
Digital Marketing Manager
InSight Vision Center, CA United States

The post Blurry Vision: Treatment & Prevention Including Natural Cures appeared first on Health Vision.