Myopic degeneration is considered the seventh leading cause of legal blindness. Though this condition can develop even at birth, it is seen that in most cases it starts during the pre teen years. It is also believed that this disease is hereditary.
Myopic degeneration is a more severe form of myopia than the other forms of myopia and is associated with retina changes, potentially causing severe vision loss. The disease progresses rapidly and visual outcome depends to a large degree on the extent of fundus and lenticular changes. The diagnosis of degenerative myopia is accompanied by characteristic chorioretinal degenerations. Pathologic myopes, particularly those with higher refractive errors, are at risk for retinal detachment and macular changes.
Symptoms
The major symptoms associated with myopic degeneration are decreased vision, headaches and sensitivity to light. If retinal degeneration or detachment is present, patients may also report light flashes and floaters, which are associated with retina changes. It is also generally seen that there is a higher incidence of cataract (nuclear cataracts) among those with degenerative myopia.
Some of the most typical features of degenerative myopia include vitreous liquefaction and posterior vitreous detachment, peripapillary atrophy appearing as temporal choroidal or scleral crescents or rings around the optic disc, lattice degeneration in the peripheral retina, tilting or malinsertion of the optic disc usually associated with myopic conus,
thinning of the retinal pigment epithelium with resulting atrophic appearance of the fundus, ectasia of the sclera posteriorly ( Posterior staphyloma), breaks in Bruch’s membrane and choriocapillaris resulting in lines across the fundus called lacquer cracks and the appearance of Fuchs’ spot in the macular area
All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient’s body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient.
The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person’s body humor (Dosha) – Vata, Pita or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humors that creates myopic degeneration
The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behavior, food habits, sleeping patterns, age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also.
Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person’s body humor and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease
Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.
In tongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.
Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person’s nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination.
In the eye diagnosis, the colour, size and even the shape of the eyes are important in determining the dosha dominance of a person. His mental status – nervousness, anxiety, confidence level etc – can also be learned through eye diagnosis.
A preliminary consultation with Ayurveda doctors online is also possible nowadays for guests worldwide.
After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .
The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.
The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and docotrs advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.
Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes. These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.
The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted in curing Myopic Degeneration.
Tharpanam is an ayurvedic therapy especially suitable for the eyes. In Ayurveda tharpanam or tharpan means retention of medicines over the eyes for up to 30 minutes or more a day .Tharpanam therapy is highly effective in treating myopic degeneration, strain to the eyes, for improving eyesight, for strengthening the optic nerve and for preventing various eye diseases. It basically is an eye cleansing process and gives a cooling effect to the eyes. In tharpanam therapy, the eyes are bordered with a thick medical combination and the medicated oil is then retained over the eye
Thalam Retention of medicated paste or oil right on the vertex of a person for over 30 minutes is termed thalam. The therapeutic effects of herbs and oils pass on to the central and autonomous nervous system through the brain. Indian pennywort, staff tree, sida plant, etc are some of the medicinal herbs used in preparing the herbal paste. Thalam is highly recommended for the treatment of myopic degeneration
Sirovasthi is the retention of warm medicated oil over the head for a certain period of time. This oil is prepared from a mixture of gingelly oil, staff tree, castor oil, ghee, common milk, and medicated herbs like bala, winter cherry, black gram, castor plant etc. There are special ways and methods in which the herbs and oils are boiled in order to extract their full medicinal properties. During this process, the therapeutic properties of the medicated oil acts on the person's brain and tunes up his central and autonomous nervous system. And, as the brain nerves and eyes are closely connected, sirovasthi is highly useful in the treatment of all forms of eye diseases including myopic degeneration.
This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosen
Main purification therapies for Myopic Degeneration
ed at the pre purification treatment stage. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors. The commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for myopic degeneration are Nasyam and Virechanam
Nasyam is the pouring of herbal oil in drops in to the nostrils and inhaling the contents. This opens up the head channels and enables the herb extracts to act directly on the central nervous system. Nasyam treatment lasts for twenty to thirty minutes. The herbal oil is a blend of sesame oil mixed with herbs such as sida plants, bel, vitex etc. Nasyam has been found to be highly effective in the treatment of myopic degeneration.
Virechanam consists of the intake of safe herbal medicines leading to the elimination of poisonous wastes through the anal route. This cleansing of the mid zone benefits the entire body system. The appetite and body strength increases making you a more active and energetic person.
These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course. Rasayana includes oral medicines and diet regulation.
used for treating myopic degeneration will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure myopic degeneration. Kashayam and Arishtam - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams– semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed. Kindly consult your ayurveda physician who will prescribe the most suitable oral medicine for your disease.
Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from myopic degeneration during and after the treatment. Consumption of fruits and green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are recommended. Cereals like wheat and rice can be consumed. Vegetable juices and soups are good. Fruit juices should be consumed abundantly. However, consumption of alcohol should be strictly avoided.
It is to be noted that foods with high glycemic levels like French fries, white bread, sugar coated cereals, and most processed foods should as far as possible be avoided. In their place foods with low glycemic content like oatmeal, whole grain breads, apples, citrus fruits, tomatoes etc should be consumed. It is to be realized that vitamin C is in important component and consumption of foods with vitamin C content would be ideal. Consumption of fish and fish oils are also found to be highly beneficial. One of the best ways to maintain a healthy eye sight with out any form of disease is to consume a plant based diet.
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You can find out your type of prakruthi and decide a diet for yourself .
Yoga and meditation are always beneficial and have always played a vital part in curing every type of disease. Yoga exercises done every day replenish and rebalance the physical and emotional systems that are depleted by the everyday stresses that lie so heavy on our lives. Yoga makes it possible to rest on a strong base of confidence and strength within oneself.
Yoga exercises including asanas, pranayamas and meditation are helpful in achieving peace and tranquility. Mild eye exercises like eye ball rotations and gaze shifting help us to improve our eye sight. Shavasana or the corpse pose has been found to be highly useful in myopic degeneration patients.
Life Style for Myopic Degeneration
Patients suffering from myopic degeneration are advised to take at least one or two weeks of rest after the panchakarma experience. At this time, the body is weak after the purification process and needs time to get back to normalcy. They should avoid exposing themselves in hot and dusty environment. They should as far as possible stay indoors and in cool environments. Pouring ice cold water over the eyes and eye lids is soothing and beneficial for the eyes. They should take care to avoid straining the eyes. It is best to keep away from watching television, reading in dimly lit room and also while lying down, staying up late in to the night etc. An annual eye examination by an ayurvedic physician would be ideal to keep all eye diseases away.
