Myopia

Myopia generally occurs in the young and patient experiences difficult in seeing objects at a distance. This is because of the parallel rays transmitted by the objects, focusing in front of the retina. This may be due to the change in the curvature of the refracting surface of the eye or due to abnormal refractivity of the media of the eye.

Normally after the use of spectacles with concave lens of appropriate curvature, the patient is relieved of the trouble. But he should continues of increase in adult life. This is called "progressive myopia" and the patient goes on changing his lens for higher numbers. In Ayurveda this condition is known as 'drishti dosha'.

In Ayurveda, persons suffering from chronic cold and constipation are considered to be more prone to get myopia. Nervous debility is also considered to give rise to this trouble.

It begins by the patient getting a blurred vision of the matter written on a black-board or shown on a screen. The patient experiences a little difficulty in recognizing persons a short distance away. He also experiences difficulties when reading continuously for some time. There may be watering from the eyes, itching and a feeling of heaviness and burning sensation in the eye-balls. This may also result in headache and disturbance in sleep.

Treatment: While treating this condition, care is always taken to cure the patient of his chronic cold and constipation, if present. Triphala is commonly used by Ayurvedic physicians for the treatment of this condition. One tablespoonful of this powder is added to a tumblerful of water in the evening and kept overnight. In the early morning the powder should be strained through a clean cloth and thrown away. The water, thus obtained, should be used both for sprinkling over the eyes and drinking. About 120 ml. of this water should be taken internally. In the case of some individuals, it may cause loose motions, and in some other persons it may not have any effect at all on the bowels. Therefore, the dose of this water should be so regulated that the person gets one clear motion in the early morning. It may take two to three days to regulate the dose. After this is taken for about 15 days, and after the constipative tendency is removed, it no longer produces loose motions. This dosage has to be continued for about 3 months for tonic effect on the eye. This water should be sprinkled gently over the eyeballs in the early morning.

Yashti madhu is the other medicine choice for the treatment of this condition. The root or rhizome of this plant is used for the purpose of medicine. It is very fibrous. Therefore, preparing a powder of this required a lot of work. One teaspoonful of this should be mixed with 1/2 a teaspoon of pure ghee and one teaspoonful of pure honey. This should be taken twice daily on an empty stomach - once in the morning before breakfast, and once in the afternoon before tea when the stomach is nearly empty. If myopia is caused because of nervous debility then a compound preparation of this drug called Saptamrita lauha is sued. In this compound preparation triphala, yashti madhu, lauha bhasma, ghee and honey are used. One teaspoonful of this powder is added to a cup of milk and taken twice a day.

To check progressive myopia, the medicated ghee prepared by boiling triphala and some other drugs is used. This is called Maha Triphala ghrita. If cow's ghee is used for preparing this medicine it produces exceedingly good results in a short time. One teaspoonful of this ghee is to be used twice daily with milk. If there is constipative tendency, then the dose of this ghee should be increased up to 3 teaspoonfuls, two times daily.

To cure the patient of cold and nasal congestion, a medicated oil, prepared by boiling some medicines with mustard oil, called Shadbindu taila is used. Six drops of this oil are dropped into each nostril of the nose and deeply inhaled once in the morning. In the beginning, this inhalation may cause a little irritation in the nose and sneezing. But when habitually used, this does not occur.

Diet: Pungent and sour articles of food like spices, pickles and curd are contra-indicated. Foods which cause constipation and nasal congestion should be avoided. Cow's ghee is considered to be very useful in this condition. It can be taken along with the food. Fried things are not useful in this condition.

Other Regimens: The patient should not strain his eyes during his studies. He should give a little rest to the eyes after reading a few pages. Writing during the night should be avoided as far as possible. Needlework and painting are also considered to put lost of strain on the eye. While reading, proper posture should be maintained and the book should be kept at a distance by which it can be read comfortably. Reading while lying on the bed is contra-indicated. The patient is prohibited from keeping awake at night especially for the purpose of studying and witnessing film shows. A walk in the early morning for about 3 kilometres daily is very helpful in arresting the progress of this trouble.