Dry Eye Syndrome - How Ayurveda Can Help?

Dry eyes are a very common condition that causes itchiness and discomfort in the eyes and can lead to further complications, if not treated. This happens when the tear glands don’t produce enough tears or the tears don’t have the natural lubricating and disinfecting properties.

Symptoms

Symptoms of dry eyes are very simple to notice. The patient will feel the following sensations:

• Extreme itchiness.

• Pain from scratching.

• Light sensitivity.

• A burning sensation in the eyes.

• A sensation that something is in the eyes when there is not.

• The eyes can get red from scratching or even without scratching.

• Eye fatigue and blurred vision.

• Unable to form tears even when eyelashes or some foreign particle gets in the eye.

Sometimes the eyes get watery but it still does not feel lubricated.

Causes and Risk Factors

The cause of dry eyes is basically lack of lubrication in the eyes. This can happen due to:

• Lack of tear secretion from the tear glands.

• Wrong composition of the tears.

• Tear duct imbalance due to hormone replacement therapy.

• Imbalance due to antidepressants.

• Hormonal imbalance due to chronic stress and anxiety.

• Irritation of the eyes due to prolonged exposure to bright lights or the computer screen.

• Exposure to cold and dry weather.

• Diabetes.

• Rheumatoid arthritis.

• Scleroderma.

• Thyroid imbalance.

• Vitamin A deficiency.

Old age, neurological diseases, and extreme strain on the eyes from reading a lot, be it books or staring at the screen, are risk factors for the condition. Women are more likely to have dry eyes than men. People who wear contact lenses are more likely to get the condition than people who wear spectacles.

Effects

Apart from the obvious discomfort, dry eyes pose other risks like:

• The chances of glaucoma or other eye problems due to the dryness and the resultant relentless scratching.

• Injury to the nerves in the eyes due to scratching.

• An easy target for infections because the natural tears has antibacterial properties that the eyes are no longer receiving enough.

• Corneal ulcer.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Dry eye syndrome of Shushkakshipaka can be treated with Ayurvedic medicine without any side effect. Ayurvedic treatment restores the vitamins in the body and manages inflammation of the eye nerves and eyelids.

This is a simple solution that does not involve plugs, antibiotics, or blood. With healthy lifestyle practice like avoiding smoking, using a lubricating eye drop, and eating all the vitamin-rich food, Ayurvedic medicine can help manage dry eye syndrome and keep the symptoms at bay.

Take Away

Dry eye is a common condition of eye getting dried up because of various physiological factors. One can cure it ayurvedic treatment. However, it is always advised to consult an ayurvedic specialist before going for any of the ayurvedic treatment.