Eye Health and Ayurveda

The eyes are one of the sense organs in the body and are also called the windows of the soul. It is very important to take care of them, says Dr. Ajith Kumar, Director of Ayush, Singapore. Eye care is very crucial and Ayurveda gives us various ways and means to take care of them. At Ayush, we give you a holistic approach to taking care of your eyes and this has been proven to be beneficial for everyone, assures the Ayurvedic doctor in Singapore. “It is said that good eye health also keeps our brain alert and healthy.” 

Screen time has increased in all age groups. We at Ayush are constantly working towards eye care and eye health concerns. Ayurveda aims at the root of the problem and its effects are long-lasting and rejuvenate the eyes systematically, points out Dr. Ajith Kumar.

Hence, it’s crucial to take care of your eye health. Speaking in that regard, Dr. Ajith says that to avoid eye health hazards, we must also understand them and why and how sight is affected. For some, it happens at a very young age and for some, as they grow older. There is another lucky group (very less) who have very clear vision despite old age. Read on to see what the Ayurvedic doctor of Singapore has to tell you about eye care concerns and eye health.

Why does sight decline

Eyesight may be poor from the beginning or it might decline for various reasons. Dr. Ajith Kumar details some of them:

Improper Nutrition: Good food is a forgotten factor in our hectic schedule. As a result, the body does not get its needed nutrition and it affects various organs in the long run. But, if we can spend a few minutes preparing a healthy meal _ rich in vitamins and proteins _ we can be confident of maintaining good eyesight, suggests the doctor in Singapore. For good eye health, one needs a balanced diet comprising vitamins A, B, C and E and Proteins cannot be left out, obviously.

Infections: The eye must be guarded against environmental pollution. Any pollutant triggers an eye allergy and at times even causes infections. It is always better to wear glasses to shield your eyes if a dusty or windy environment cannot be avoided. Two-wheeler drivers should take more precautions to keep away dust and grime from their eyes. Wearing a helmet does help, assures Dr. Ajith. “Never touch your eyes with dirty hands as it is the easiest route for germs to enter the eyes.”  

Unprotected Screen Exposure: Whether you are a working professional, a student or a teacher, we are all stuck to a computer, iPad or any electronic gadget all the time. Sadly, this cannot be avoided and we end up paying dearly with our eye health, feels Dr. Ajith Kumar. Cautioning patients against the perils of being addicted to these gizmos, the Ayurvedic doctor advocates the use of protective eye care glasses while viewing the blue screen for prolonged hours. “Look away for one or two minutes or take a walk every 20 minutes to avoid the eyes being affected by the blue light from the screens,” suggests Dr. Ajith.

Ageing

Weakening eyesight is the first sign of old age, smiles Dr. Ajith Kumar, Singapore. Despite a proper diet and good exercise, this is inevitable for the majority of the population. He lists out the following vision problems as we age:

• Presbyopia
• Glaucoma
• Dry eyes
• Myopia
• Age-related macular degeneration and
• Cataract

The team of doctors under Dr. Aith Kumar at  Ayush, Singapore teach you or help you to practice some natural eye care methods to keep some of these concerns at bay.

Common problems related to the eye

Dr. Ajith Kumar throws light on some of the common eye disorders and how they can be managed with Ayurveda. He says that most of the population is affected by dry eyes, myopia (near-sightedness), cataracts and glaucoma.

Dr. Ajith dives deep into some of these:

When a patient suffers from Myopia or short sight, he finds it hard to see distant objects. He might also be affected by blurry vision, headaches and excessive eye blinking. We call this Dhrishti vyadhi in Ayurveda, says Dr. Ajith Kumar, Director, Ayush, Singapore. “It is caused by an imbalance in Pitta and Vata doshas in the eyes”.

Treatment

• Avoid excessive use of electronic devices
• Always read in well-lit areas
• Have a balanced diet rich in vitamin A and other eye-nourishing nutrients
• Indulge in eye exercises and practising eye rotation will help strengthen eye muscles
• If you prefer ayurvedic medicines, they should contain Cakshushya and  Bhrimhana. To rejuvenate the eyes, herbs like Triphala, Amla, Shatavari, and Jhandu flowers definitely help
• Eye treatments like Netra Dhara, Seka, Anjana, Ascyotana, Drishti Prasadana, Nasya, Shirodhara and Tarpana promote vision and strengthen eye nerves

Managing Glaucoma, the Ayurvedic way

Glaucoma, an eye problem, if not detected or treated early, eventually leads to vision loss. However, Ayurvedic treatment can help asserts Dr. Aith Kumar.  This eye condition is known as Adhimantha in Ayurveda. Mostly the treatment is a personalized one and is based on the dosha vitiation of an individual.

One has to do simple eye exercises to strengthen the eye muscles to combat glaucoma, explains the doctor of Ayurveda. To prevent further weakening of the eye muscles, Surya Namaskar, and pranayam can be practised.

Panchakarma procedures (Snehana, Swedana, and Vasti) help to eliminate toxins from the blood and reduce excess pressure in the eyes, assures Dr. Ajith.

The Ayurvedic doctor explains a special bloodletting procedure called Rakthamoksha. He is sure that it will greatly help to reduce eye pressure. “Most effecting in managing Glaucoma,”

Another unique procedure called Netrabasti helps to strengthen the optic nerve, points out Dr. Ajith Kumar. In this procedure, using the dough of moong dal a small ring is made and placed around the eyes. Lukewarm medicated ghee poured into the ring soothes the eyes, explains the Director of Ayush, Singapore.

Ayurvedic eye care routine ideas

The doctor of Ayurveda suggests the following measures for good eye health:

• Wash your eyes with cold water first thing in the morning. Do not forget to have water in your mouth when you do so. Never forget to make this eyewash routine part of your everyday activity
• The water that is splashed on your eyes must not be too hot or too cold as it is harmful to the eyes. This will keep your eyes healthy
• Another ayurvedic method suggested by Dr. Ajith for eye health is the practice of Trataka. This improves blood circulation and vision, eventually. In this method, one should stare at a lit ghee lamp lit. Except for the light from the lamp the room should be engulfed in darkness. The suggested viewing angle is 30 degrees. The eye gets strengthened when you practise this for 10 minutes in a day, highlights the doctor of Ayurveda
• Ayurvedic herbs can help improve eye health. Details Dr. Ajith Kumar, herbs like Amla, Punarnava, and Triphala can nourish the eyes dramatically. Eye care concerns can also be addressed with Anu Thailam, suggests the doctor
• Special treatments: Ajith Kumar now talks about a special group of ayurvedic treatments for the eye using medicated ghee and some powdered formulations. To improve eye health Ayush offers treatments such as Seka, Aschyotana, Bidalaka, Tarpana and Kriyakalpa. Dr. Ajith opines ghee acts as a super food for the eyes. As it provides the nutrients necessary for the eye, it is important to make it part of everyday diet
• Exercises: You should try to blink every now and then, and try rotating your eyes to improve blood circulation. Palming helps to reduce eye strain. These are some of the suggestions given by the Ayurvedic doctor at Ayush, Singapore

It is always good to take care of our eyes for only if our vision is healthy, we can be independent and take care of ourselves or our routine (driving, travelling and everyday chores). The doctor also is sure that it will also help in learning and enhancing our comprehension abilities.