Ayurvedic Treatment for Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a degenerative disorder that severe or reduces the blood supply to the optic nerve. It progresses in a gradual manner leading to loss of vision. Ayurvedic treatment for glaucoma resolves the problem naturally and prevents the deterioration of the optic nerve. Alongside, it also strengthens the vision and thus improving the overall visual health of the patient.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a serious eye disorder that causes malfunctioning of the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for communication between the brain and the eyes. Glaucoma is caused by high pressure inside the eye. As the pressure increases it starts wording the optic nerve tissues and interferes with the communication between the eyes and the brain.

If it continues unchecked, it finally damages the optic nerve to the extent where communication completely stops between the eyes and the brain. This results in permanent blindness. Therefore, the only way to prevent vision loss is early diagnosis of the problem and on-time treatment. 

Symptoms of Glaucoma

The first symptom of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma. It is a silent problem that grows without any sign. It is crucial to get your eyes diagnosed comprehensively from time to time and monitor the changes.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma or narrow-angle glaucoma is the worst stage of this disease. It needs immediate attention from the doctor and surgery without delay.

Other common symptoms of glaucoma include: 

1. Nausea
2. Intense pain in the eyes
3. Vomiting
4. Sudden blurriness in vision
5. The appearance of coloured rings around the lights
6. Sudden disturbances in vision

Causes of Glaucoma

Our eyeball is filled with a clear fluid called aqueous humour that is constantly created by the eyes. It fills a part of the eyeball cavity and leaves through the iris and cornea. Natural pressure is created in the eyes when the outer channels for aqueous humour get blocked partially or completely. As the pressure increases, it starts damaging the optic nerve. Vision starts going down as the damage to the nerve progresses.

The exact cause for increasing pressure in the eye is yet to be found. But there are a few other reasons that play a key role in the development of pressure inside the eyes:

• Eye drops are used for dilating eyes.
• Restricted drainage inside the eyes
• Specific medication like corticosteroids
• Reduced or poor blood flow to the optic nerve
• Elevated or high blood pressure

Diagnosis and Glaucoma Treatment in Ayurveda

Glaucoma is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination and observation of a person’s medical history. There are a few other tests recommended for diagnosis of glaucoma like measurement of intraocular pressure, dilated eye examination, visual field test, gonioscopy, and pachymetry.

Ayurveda can treat Glaucoma successfully without any side effects. It uses herbal medications and Panchakarma therapies to reduce eye pressure and restore its normal functioning. The Panchakarma therapies like Virechana, Anjana, Netradhara, and Nasya play a key role in the elimination of toxins leading to an increase in ocular pressure. Then the medicines and the rejuvenating processes like Tharpana, Shirodhara restore the lost visual power and strengthen the damaged nerve.

Ayurvedic treatment can really make a difference by preventing any further degradation of vision and improving it to a considerable extent.

Diet and Lifestyle Changes for Glaucoma

Ayurveda says that food is like medicine, therefore, it should be used as one for the treatment of diseases. It is one of the most preliminary things that is recommended for the natural treatment of diseases like glaucoma.

The diet for glaucoma patients should take a diet that balances Kapha and regulates Vata and Pitta doshas.

For example, food products that restore the balance of Kapha needs to be cooked with less water, should be light, dry and consumed with some extra spices. It should not be greasy or heavy. The patient undergoing treatment should also avoid sour, sweet, and salty food items as they all contribute to Kapha. 

The most beneficial food items include millets, barley, corn, all vegetables, garlic, etc. The patient must avoid seafood, red meat, cucumbers, olives, okra, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Preventions for Glaucoma Disease

• Try to identify the factors that make you susceptible to glaucoma and take measures to avoid them.
• If you are suffering from high B.P., take steps to bring it under control.
• The same needs to be done for other problems like high sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
• Intense physical activities should be avoided.