Did you face trouble seeing in low-light areas? Do you find it difficult to differentiate between colours? Retinitis Pigmentosa might be the cause of this progressive eye condition. It is a condition where the retina gets most affected and causes night blindness to eventual loss of vision. Ayurvedic treatment for retinitis pigmentosa has a holistic approach to the overall well-being and health of individuals. It is crucial to consult with an experienced and well-trained ophthalmologist before you decide on any treatment plan.
It is a serious eye condition that progresses very rapidly and affects the retina. The light-sensitive issues in the back of the eyes are most affected by this disease. The cells of the retina eventually damage which can cause serious vision issues as the condition progresses. They are mostly because of some genetic factor but other factors need to be considered while studying this condition of retinitis pigmentosa.
Understanding the cause of Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa mainly occurs because of genetic reasons, such as children inheriting this condition from their parents. The specific gene mutation or defect causes severe effects on the health and functioning of the retinal cells.
Genetic factor
The genetic factors involved in passing down this condition are
- Different inheritance patterns or defects in the gene.
- Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.
- Autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.
- X-linked recessive inheritance.
Environmental factors
While genetic factors are common causes, some environmental factors also play an important role in the development of this particular disease, which is less frequent. It is a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers.
- Certain chemicals and pollutants are responsible for damage to the retinal cells. When the eyes are exposed to these toxins, it can trigger the condition.
- The inadequate amount of nutrition also affects eye health. Essential nutrients like vitamins A and C should be taken in good amounts to avoid this condition, especially if you have any family history.
- Sometimes physical damage to the eyes due to trauma or injury accelerates the condition, and in some cases, it also triggers it.
It is important to understand that environmental factors equally contribute to retinitis pigmentosa, but in most cases, genetic predisposition is the most important thing for the progression of disease.
Symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is the progressively affecting condition of the retina. The most important symptom is noted, which is that the sensitivity to light increases suddenly. Here are some common symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa.
- Night blindness: It is one of the most common symptoms and is characterized by difficulty seeing in low-light conditions. It is one of the primary symptoms that appear in RP. The reason behind night blindness is because the specialized cells of the retina known as rods are affected first which are responsible for vision in low-light areas.
- Tunnel vision: The peripheral vision gradually starts to deteriorate which causes narrow field vision. As soon as the disease progresses, the central vision is affected after peripheral vision.
- Increase light sensitivity: The rods are the first one to get affected, which result in difficulty in tolerating bright light. The sensitivity is decreased to the light as the photoreceptor cells are damaged.
- Change in colour vision: The difficulty in distinguishing between colours can occur because it affects the cones of the retina, which are responsible for differentiating between the colours. Cones get affected after rods.
Conventional treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa
It is a progressively deteriorating disease that affects the retina and then the whole eye system. Conventional medicinal science does not have a cure for this condition, but the treatment will help many symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.
- Low vision aids: It is the best technique to enhance the visual accuracy of individuals who are suffering from retinitis pigmentosa. They can use a magnifying glass telescope or closed-circuit television system to magnify the object.
- Gene therapy: The therapy is the experimental treatment that involves the replacement of defective genes with healthy genes. It is the best and most potential therapy to slow down the progression of disease. They target specific genetic mutations to slow down the process. The early result of the clinical trial shows a promising outcome.
- Stem cell therapy: The therapy is an experimental treatment to replace the stem cells of damaged retinal cells. The primary cell will have the potential to develop into different retinal cells.
- Light therapy: The therapy involves specific wavelengths of light to determine the optimal wavelength and frequency of the treatment.
Ayurvedic treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa
It is a progressive disease, but Ayurvedic care provides a holistic approach to finding the best for this particular condition.
- Balancing Doshas: Ayurvedic treatment based on three primary doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They regulate the body’s function, and if there is any imbalance, they can cause various health problems, including eye disease. The Ayurvedic treatment involves finding out the predominant dosha of the body and deciding on treatment accordingly.
- Agni: The digestive fire is fundamental to health and the eye. Ayurveda emphasises improving the digestive fire with proper nutrient absorption, which eventually flushes down the toxins from the body.
- Ama accumulation: Ama is a toxic residue that can hinder various body functions, including eyes. The Ayurvedic treatment works on removing these ama and restoring the balance.
- Herbal remedies: Some herbs like Amla Ashwagandha, Brahmi and Triphala have unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that benefit the eyes and slow down the RP progression.
- Changing diet and lifestyle: Dietary habits and lifestyle play an important role in nourishing the body and promoting better health. Fresh and seasonal food with regular exercise and stress management is a unique part of Ayurvedic practice.
- Panchkarma: The panchakarma therapy is Ayurvedic detoxification, which helps in rejuvenation through a series of processes that focus on eliminating toxins from the body. It improves overall health and removes toxins, which helps in supporting eye functioning.
The Ayurvedic treatment offers various supported techniques, and if they are applied in daily life by a specific Ayurvedic eye specialist, then it can offer retinitis pigmentosa. Make sure to follow the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals.
Conclusion
Retinitis Pigmentosa is a disease generally caused by defective genes which result in base and loss. Although there is no solid result to find a definite cure but with the help of conventional medicines and an ayurvedic approach, it will develop potential management strategies that help with the symptoms and slow down the progression of disease.
Conventional treatment has some complicated therapy lifestyle modifications that aim to improve the visual function of the patient, but they are not easily available for public use. Generally, these therapies are very costly, and they are still under experimental use instead of producing some impressive, highly reliable results.
Ayurvedic principles are based on improving the overall well-being of individuals by balancing doshas, improving digestion, and eliminating toxins from the body for a holistic well-being approach.
The Ayurvedic treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa is conducted by a specialized practitioner at Prakash Netralaya, Rajasthan. We offer qualified healthcare professionals who have extensive work experience on an individual with RP to manage the condition and optimize the vision.
For online booking, you can consult online at Prakash Nethrayala.
