Ayurveda Ophthalmology
Human are the wonderful creature of Mother nature and had been granted with high Intellectual.
This intelligence and knowledge perception need 5 Sense organs and Among them, Eyes are the supreme of all sense organs as mentioned,
नयनं सर्वेन्द्रियाणां प्रधानम (Nayanam Sarvendriyaanam Pradhanam). Our Beautiful Eyes are the only sense organ with the help of which we can glare this beautiful world. Eyes are developed in 7 th weak of pregnancy and growth continues till the time growth of a Person attains Maturity and Likewise development of Vision also start after Birth and continues for years of childhood.
Sharp vision in a beautiful Eye is considered as Normal and always needed for Good visual perception. Anything wrong that leads to damage in the structure of Eye or disturbance in vision is
considered as Abnormal or Diseased eye and hampers visual perception. This science of Normality and Abnormality or Diseased condition of Eye is explained in Ayurveda Ophthalmology and it comes under – “शालाक्यतंत्र विज्ञानं “ (SHALAKYA TANTRA VIGYANAM) (Science of Head, Ear, Nose, Throat and Eyes or part of body above Neck). – “शालाक्यतंत्र “ (SHALAKYA TANTRA) is a branch of AYURVEDA among 8 Branches. The Meaning of Shalakya is the procedures carried out with the help of “शलाका “( SHALAKA )(Probe).
Since the Ancient ages, Eye diseases are mentioned in Ayurveda texts but since some decades the
No. of patients are increasing overwhelming. There are serious eye ailments that may lead to
progressive dimness of vision and ultimately blindness like Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, ARMD,
Retinitis Pigmentosa, other retinal and Macular degenerations, Cataract, Uveitis, Corneal
degenerations and dystrophies, CRAO, CRVO, Optic Neuritis and Optic atrophy etc…
There are 39 million Blind people across the world and in that, 8 million are in Indian itself and it is
increasing ———- per year.
Why this huge number of blindness and eye patients are increasing?
AYURVEDA has mentioned the cause of Eye Diseases —-
Father of Ayurveda Ophthalmology
असात्म्येन्द्रियार्थसंयोग: प्रज्ञापराधो ऋतुविपर्ययाच्च – ASAATYMENDRIYAARTH SAMYOG PRAGYAAPRADHA RITUVIPRYAYAACHCHA
1. असात्म्येन्द्रियार्थसंयोग: – (ASATMYENDRIYAARTH SAMYOG) It is an incompatible correlation of sense organ (Eye) with Sensual
objects.
(a) अयोग (Ayogah): – No contact/ Negligible contact of sense organ with sensual objects.
e.g. Working in Dim light for long period.
Watching minute objects for long period.
(b) अतियोग (Atiyogah): – Excessive contact of sense organ with sensual objects.
e.g. Continuous reading for long time.
Watching very bright/light emitting objects.
Watching sunlight/ welding lights.
As mentioned in AstangHridayam –
रूपाणाम भास्वताम दृष्टिर्विनश्यति – (“Roopanaam Bhaswataam Drishtirvinashyati”)
(C) मिथ्यायोग (MithyaYogah ): – Unnatural correlation of sense organ with sensual objects.
(t) अतिविप्रकर्ष (Ativiprakarsh)– Watching/Reading from very far distance.
(x) अतिसन्निकर्ष from very close distance or object is very close to face.
(y) Watching fearful objects
(z) Watching objects which we hate.
2. प्रज्ञापराध (Pragyaapraadh): – Using things/objects knowingly which is not good to eat or not good to
see or harmful for Eyes e.g. Excessive use of Junk food or food having Preservatives.
3. ऋतुविपर्ययात (Ritu-Viparyayaat) – Seasonal effects favouring eye diseases.
e.g. Rainy season – Many infectious eye diseases may be.
Winter or Spring Season – there are chances for many Inflammatory eye diseases.
So, when an Incompatible contact of a sensual object happens to Eye or Patient uses excessive
अचक्षुष्य आहार-विहार (Diet and Lifestyle harmful for eyes), Doshas in body gets vitiated and reach to
eyes causing various eye ailments. Many of the complicated eye diseases lead to Blindness.
So, Ayurveda Ophthalmology or शालाक्य-विज्ञान (Shalakya-Vigyan) gives us understanding of Eye
disease and explains Preventive and treatment modalities for management of Eye diseases.
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