Dr VL Shyam
Sep 18, 2018

Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises

My son is 18 and has been diagnosed with glaucoma. He has been using eye drops every morning for two years. Is there any remedy for this in ayurveda?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and result in vision loss. Sometimes called the silent thief of sight, glaucoma can damage the vision so gradually you don’t notice any loss of vision until the disease is at an advanced stage. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises. Increased eye pressure is due to a buildup of a fluid (aqueous humor) inside your eye. This fluid normally drains into the front of the eye (anterior chamber) through tissue (trabecular meshwork) at the angle where the iris and cornea meet. When fluid is overproduced or the drainage system doesn’t work properly, the fluid can’t flow out at its normal rate and pressure builds up. Symptoms vary from patchy blind spots, tunnel vision, severe headache, eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, halos around lights to redness in the eyes.

According to ayurveda, one should avoid daytime sleep, oily food, yoghurt, urud dhal and fermented items. Therapies for head or eyes should only be done with the advice of an ayurveda expert.

There are a few therapies and preparations that could benefit the condition. A complimentary approach can be more beneficial. Consult an ayurveda expert before taking any tips.

Some tips for glaucoma patients to follow:

✱ Drink small amounts of fluids over the course of a day.

✱ Regular exercise may reduce eye pressure in open-angle glaucoma. It’s especially important to avoid head-down yoga positions and stretches.

✱ Sleep with your head slightly elevated

✱ Abstain from coffee

✱ Refrain from smoking. Smokers have a higher risk in developing glaucoma.

✱ Protect eyes with a good pair of sunglasses

✱ Indian gooseberry (Amla, Emblica officinalis), is exceptional in treating ocular problems including glaucoma. Its juice is taken with honey for better effects.