Among five sense organs or
Ayurveda, is the most ancient remedial under human passion and serving us since Vedic periods. “Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam aturasya vikara prasamanm cha” (Charak Samhita Sutrasthana 30/26) explains the aim of Ayurveda, to preserve health of healthy person and to cure the diseased one. Here we can observe the prime importance of preservation of health of a heathy person. This can be achieved by preventing diseases and promoting health through healthy lifestyle. In the same way Prevention of Eye disorders and promotion of eye health is essential. Among all sense organs eyes are of prime importance as the vision is very crucial interpreter for social, spiritual and intellectual development of human beings. Vagbhatacharya rightly quoted the importance of eyes, “Once the vision is lost, the whole world will become only one kind that of darkness” (Ashtanga Hridaya Uttarasthana 13/98). Changing lifestyle, pollution, excessive use of computer, mobile phones, irregular sleeping habits, improper daily regimen and seasonal regimens have resulted in many eye problems and brought miseries in daily life. Diseases like Glaucoma, Cataract, Computer Vision Syndrome, Dry Eye Syndrome, Age related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Hypertensive Retinopathy etc. may occur due to defective lifestyle. Ayurveda gives a complete remedy to prevent the eye problems by simple daily procedures like,
A thorough screening of Ayurvedic and other ancient literature has been done to collect information regarding
According to Acharya Sushrut, Excessive intake of
Acharya Sushrut has mentioned
According to Acharya Sushrut excessive exposure to dust, smoke, dirty water, sudden change in temperature etc. may cause irritation in eyes (Sushrut Samhita Uttaratantra 1/26-27). Light exposure, especially in the UV-B light range, has been examined and found to be a risk factor for cataract in some studies (
Ayurveda clearly mentioned that excessive
Acharya Sushrut mentioned looking continuous at distance objects and minute objects are the causes of various eye diseases (Sushrut Samhita Uttaratantra 1/26-27).
According to Ayurveda suppression of
Prevalence of eye disorders is increasing in present high-tech era. Ayurveda gives a wide verity of choices to choose healthy lifestyle in a simpler way to avoid eye disorders. Healthy lifestyle in terms of proper daily regimen and diet discussed above will definitely help to prevent these problems. Contemporary science also explains the importance of prevention of eye problems through counseling, dietary modification and avoidance of excessive exposure to causative factors.
Improper management of various eye disorders may lead to blindness therefore the primary step should be the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ to withdraw contributing factors, as under
Counseling contributes a main role towards the prevention. It involves encouraging the adaptation of eye health promoting behaviors and discouragement of behaviors that damage the eye health. Health education to the individual, family and to the community should be done by school health programs, advertisements and other outreach programs.
Diets that negatively affect eyes are called A
| Ahara -Varga (Food) | Do’s/Pathya/Wholesome | Don’t/Apathya /Unwholesome |
|---|---|---|
| Go dugdha (Cow milk), | Go | |
| Rock salts | ||
Action of
Maharshi Vagbhat described that daily use of
Various Ayurvedic texts enumerate that
Ayurveda explains that development of
Acharya Vagbhat identified 4 major
Two
According to Bhela Samhita,
Related researches revealed that by
Adoption of modern lifestyle affected ocular health and brought miseries to human society. Ayurveda, the ancient medical science gives a ray of hope to overcome these problems. A healthy lifestyle with proper maintenance of daily regimen, dietary habit and avoidance of exposure to causative factors would be helpful towards better eye health.
To the researchers of different studies and writers of various texts referred in this manuscript.