Glaucoma is a disease which causes progressive damage in the optic nerves that lead to direct vision loss as a result of increased intra ocular pressure (not always). The optic nerves receive signals from retina and transmit them to brain as electrical impulses that we see in the form of image. Increased intra ocular pressure causes reduced blood flow in optic nerves and hence optic atrophy due to decreased nutrition to the nerve. In some cases, damage to optic nerves is seen even with normal intra ocular pressure. Glaucoma is clinically divided in to two types –
- Open angle glaucoma
- Closed angle glaucoma
Closed angle glaucoma is the resultant of direct obstruction in the out flow of aqueous fluid.
Symptoms of Glaucoma:
- Pain in the eye ball sometimes with headache
- Photophobia (irritation from light)
- Floaters (seeing black spots in the field of Vision)
- Increases I.O.P.
- Vision loss in advanced cases due to damage in optic nerves.
According to Ayurveda, glaucoma is a disease thought to be caused by vitiation of all three doshas i.e. vata, pitta & kapha. Ayurvedic procedures help to clear the obstruction in the flow of aqueous fluid in eye so that intra ocular pressure can be maintained in a normal range. The cases, in which there is severs closure of angle need to go for surgical treatments. In spite of controlling I.O.P., the rejuvenating medicines of Ayurveda give strength to the optic nerve and hence restore the vision with in limitations. Complete recovery of the vision is not possible at any cost in severely visual impaired. So, the wise decision is not to under estimate the damaging power of glaucoma and treatment should be started at the earliest. The main Ayurvedic procedures done for the treatment of glaucoma are as follows
- Virechana
- Nethradhara
- Nasya
- Takra dhara
- Anjana
- Aschotanam