Retinal diseases are the groups of diseases affecting the retina. Retinal diseases are the cause of different levels of visual problems.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- CAUSES OF RETINAL DISEASES
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF RETINAL DISEASES
- DIAGNOSIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- TREATMENTS FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- PROGNOSIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- COMPLICATIONS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- RETINAL DISEASES AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF RETINAL DISEASES
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- HOME REMEDIES FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- YOGA FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF RETINAL DISEASES
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Blurred vision
- Distorted vision
- Impaired colour vision
- Seeing spots (eye floaters)
- Loss of vision
CAUSES OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Uncontrolled diabetes is the cause of retinopathy
- Traumatic injuries
- Age-related degenerations
- Smoking
- Genetic factors
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF RETINAL DISEASES
Due to the above-mentioned causes, retinal detachment, tear, macular degeneration, a macular hole may occur. In the case of diabetic retinopathy, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, so blood supply in the retina obstructed. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. But these new blood vessels don’t develop properly and can leak easily.
DIAGNOSIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Diagnosis through clinical features
- Blood tests – to measure the blood glucose level (Random blood sugar, FBS, PPBS, Glycated haemoglobin (A1C) test)
- Vision tests
- Fluorescein angiography
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- Fundus autofluorescence
- CT scan
- MRI scan
TREATMENTS FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Treatment for underlying pathology
- Antidiabetic medications and Insulin therapy for diabetic retinopathy
- Focal laser treatment
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors injecting into the eyes
PROGNOSIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- The prognosis of retinal diseases is based on the type of retinal injury
- In the early stages, it is manageable with medications. Untreated retinal diseases lead to complications.
COMPLICATIONS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Complete loss of vision
RETINAL DISEASES AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda, retinal diseases are managed based on “timira chikilsa”
- Diabetic retinopathy is known as ‘madhumehajanya timira’
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Excess consumption of unctuous, unwholesome and sweet food
- Janma krita – congenital
- Sedentary life
- Agantu factors – traumatic injuries
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Blurred vision
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
Due to the nidanas, doshas become vitiated and get sthanasamsraya (accumulation) in the eyes and symptoms of timira manifest. When the excess dosha accumulates in the eyes of persons with uncontrolled diabetes, the ‘madhumehajanya timira’ manifested.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Diminished vision – heena drishti
- Syava varna darsana – blackish or greyish spots in the vision
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF RETINAL DISEASES
- Yapya roga – symptoms are manageable with Ayurvedic medicines
- Retinal diseases due to traumatic injuries are difficult to cure – krichramutratha
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR RETINAL DISEASES
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Internal administration of triphala churna along with honey
- Triphaladi Ghana vati
- Saptamrita loha
- Netra bandha with Kadalikandha
- Padabhyanga with Ksheerabala taila
- Netra seka with kwatha of Triphala, Yastimadhu, Lodra and Musta
- Bidalaka with Triphalachoorna and Rasanjana
- Shirodhara (Takradhara) with vasaguduchyadikwatha
- Tarpana with Mahatriphala ghrita
Internal medicines to control diabetes in diabetic retinopathy;
- Nishakatakadi kashayam
- Nishamalaka churna
- Aveera beeja churna
- Vasantha kusumakara ras
- Kataka khadiradi kashayam
- Chandra prabha gulika
- Lodhrasavam – after food
- Amrita mehari churna
- Kanmada bhasma
- Shivagulika
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Virechana – purgation
- Vasthi – medicated enema
- Nasya – anutaila, durvadi ghrita, shatbindhu taila
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Triphaladi Ghana vati
- Saptamrita loha
To control diabetes in diabetic retinopathy;
- Nishakatakadi kashayam
- Nishamalaka churna
- Aveera beeja churna
- Vasantha kusumakara ras
- Kataka khadiradi kashayam
- Chandra prabha gulika
- Lodhrasavam
- Amrita mehari churna
- Kanmada bhasma
- Shivagulika
HOME REMEDIES FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Exercise regularly
- Intake of Indian gooseberry with turmeric powder and honey
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Avoid food items that produce dosha imbalance like unctuous food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamin A
- Avoid more oily foods, junk foods, sugar-containing diet
YOGA FOR RETINAL DISEASES
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
- Dhanurasana
- Paschimottasana
- Kapalbhati pranayama
- Shavasana
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF RETINAL DISEASES
1. Ayurvedic Management of diabetic retinopathy
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330837635_Ayurvedic_Management_of_Diabetic_Retinopathy
- Diabetic retinopathy and its management in ayurveda- a special case report
http://www.iamj.in/posts/2015/images/upload/2nd_article_publication.pdf
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