Ayurvedic Approach to Dry Eyes

How often have you noticed your eyes were wet?

When we are extremely happy, our eyes become wet, when we are extremely sad, our eyes become wet, and we end up sometimes crying too, in both the cases. We take this little mechanism for granted, without realising how important it is for our eyes to be lubricated all the time and what complications we can feel if our body doesn’t produce enough tears.

Dry Eyes result when there is a lack of sufficient lubrication on the surface of the eye. The surface becomes irritated and inflamed, with the risk of corneal scarring and infection in severe cases if left untreated. Different secretions are produced by glands around the eye to create the tear film that protects and keeps the eye hydrated. The conjunctiva secretes mucins that act as a protective lubricant and smooth surface for the tear film. The lacrimal gland creates a middle aqueous layer that washes away foreign particles and contains water and nutrients for the eye. The Meibomian glands in the eyelids release the oily outer layer of the tear film that act as a sealant preventing the tears from evaporating. So a problem in any layer of tear film can result in dry eye occurring.

Dry eye syndrome most commonly occurs in the elderly, because lubrication production in the eyes reduces as hormones decline. But now, it is no longer the problem only of old age, as we see even teenagers suffering from dry eyes.

External Causes for Dry Eyes

The most common reason behind dry eyes lies in our modern lifestyle. Being in front of screens all day, working on computers for hours, checking the mobile phone regularly, watching TV late into the evening and so on. We even live under artificial light for a large part of the day and evening.

Modern urban living can also have a negative impact on your eyes – air conditioning, air travel, concrete cities all provide a dry, low humidity environment which are not optimal for our eyes.

A combination of reduced and incomplete blinking through staring at screens, combined with a low humidity dry environment causes the tear film to rapidly evaporate. Regular full blinking is necessary to activate secretion of oils from the meibomian glands in the eyelids.

Internal Cause of Dry Eyes

The external factors have a simpler solution than the internal factors. The internal factors are those factors which come from within our body only and include –

• The natural ageing process, especially menopause.
• Diseases that affect your ability to make tears, like Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases.
• Side effects of certain medicines like antihistamines
• Side effect of laser eye surgery
• Problems that don’t allow your eyelids to close the way they should

Treatment for Dry Eyes

Usually when a person is suffering from dry eyes, they are advised by their doctor to use eye drops as required. But these tear substitutes are really only giving symptomatic relief by providing additional lubrication and slowing the evaporation process. This may be fine as a temporary solution and could alleviate your dry eyes if you change your lifestyle habits, but in the case of internal causes, it will take more than continuous use of eye drops to find long term relief.

At Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Center, a combination of herbal medicines and lifestyle advice can resolve many causes of dry eyes. Even the consumption of certain fruits can help alleviate dry eyes.

Please call us on 1300 552 260 to discuss your dry eye problem.

Tip – Take these combinations if you have dry eye problems –

• A carrot every day for 41 days, or
• An Avocado every day for 41 days, or
• One banana, avocado, and orange, every day for 41 days.