Abstract

PREVENTIVE AND PROMOTIVE OCULAR CARE IN AYURVEDA

Vani Nayak*, Gopikrishna S. and Basavarajeshwari B.

ABSTRACT

Prevention of ocular disorders and preservation of ocular health has become essential, as changing lifestyle has resulted in many eye disorders and brought miseries to daily life. Ayurveda gives prime importance to the eye. It says that sarvendriyanam nayanam pradhanam.[1] Eyes allow understanding and navigating the world around. Suffering from eye disorders with uncorrected refractive error in children result into adverse quality of life and significantly affect their vision, education and psychosocial development. Most of the people pay attentions to their eyes only if they have eye problems. However, the hours spent in reading, writing, watching TV, using multimedia mobile and working on computers take their toll on eye health. Diseases like dry eye, computer vision syndrome, diabetic retinopathy etc. Occur due to life style changes. Ayurveda describe vividly about ocular health and hygiene. So attempt has been made to explore the procedures for preservation of eye health in relation to certain factors like relation of eye diseases with mind, diet and activities, sleep, daily and seasonal regimen related to eye health, occupational eye health and disorders, rasayana therapy for preserving better vision. Time tested procedures like Anjana (collyrium), padabhyanga (foot massage with oil) etc and various yogasana and shatkriyas are considered highly effective daily procedures for maintenance of ocular health.

Keywords: Eye care, Preventive ophthalmology, Daily Regimen and Lifestyle disorders.