Ayurvedic Treatment for Keratitis is based on the line of treatments explained in the Susrutha Samhita. The eye is highly sensitive, and it has its protective mechanisms. The eyelid covers the eye, and tears & fluids protect it from infection. The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye and provides a barrier against dirt, smoke, allergens, microbes, and disease-causing agents. Because the cornea is one of the first lines of defence, it can be irritating and become inflamed. This is known as keratitis. Keratitis is a painful inflammation of the cornea and can have various causes. This can be very painful, cause problems with vision, and make the eye more sensitive to light. It can be caused by an infection or an injury. There are many different types of keratitis, and each type needs different treatment.
Signs & symptoms
Pain in the eye.
Disturbed/blurred vision.
Feeling of something present in the eye.
Watery eyes.
Redness with a discharge from eyes.
Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Causes
Non-infectious causes of keratitis include:
- wearing contact lenses for too long
- the eye drying out, sometimes if the eye does not produce enough tears
- an allergy, for example to cosmetics or pollution
- something in the eye that should not be there, a foreign body.
- injury to the cornea
- exposure to intense sunlight, for example from water or snow
- Vitamin A deficiency
Infectious types of keratitis include:
- bacterial, usually from unclean contact lenses
- fungal, most often from an eye injury by a tree branch or plant
- viral, from infection with the herpes simplex virus or herpes zoster virus
- parasitic, caused by a tiny organism often found in lakes and rivers
Pathophysiology
Keratitis can be infectious or non-infectious. In many cases, however, the changes in the cornea induced by non-infectious keratitis lead to secondary infectious conditions.
In bacterial keratitis, the adhesions on fimbriae etc to host cells causes adherence, following which the pathogen invades into the corneal stroma. It causes degradation of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix and leads to lysis of the cell. The continued destruction of stroma forms ring infiltrates with polymorphonuclear leukocytes within the corneal stroma.
The process is almost similar in other infections too. Adhesion, invasion and stromal destruction happen but the toxic products may differ according to the organism.
Diagnosis
- Examination of the eye by an ophthalmologist
- Proper history taking
- bacterial or fungal keratitis by taking a small scraping from the cornea to send to a laboratory to be tested.
- Medical history to diagnose viral keratitis.
- Detailed examination and history taking are needed to diagnose parasitic keratitisTop of Form
.Treatments
Treatment depends upon the cause of keratitis.
- Anti-bacterial eye drops may be prescribed for mild bacterial keratitis. In more serious cases, the person may need antibiotics. Steroid eye drops can reduce the inflammation if the keratitis is severe.
- Antifungal medication is needed for fungal keratitis. Surgery may be needed for this condition if not resolved within some months.
- Eye drops or antiviral medicines are used to treat viral keratitis. As there is no cure for the herpes simplex virus that can cause viral keratitis, the condition can happen again.
- Parasitic keratitis is the most difficult type to treat and requires urgent medical treatment as well as surgery.
- If a person has keratitis and wears contact lenses, they should take them out as soon as they develop any symptoms of infection or irritation. Contact lenses should not be used again until the condition has gone away.
During treatment, someone should see an eye doctor if:
- the condition is not improving with the use of eye drops
- their sight becomes blurred
- the eye becomes more painful, or redder
- a white spot on the cornea grows in size
Prognosis
Keratitis usually has a good prognosis.
Complications
Keratitis can be serious and may cause loss of vision or blindness if left untreated. The condition is usually treatable if diagnosed early enough. Complications can include permanent scarring, ulcers on the cornea, or less commonly glaucoma.
Disease & Ayurveda
Keratitis-savranasukla
Nidana
Agantuja
Purvaaroopa
Not mentioned
Samprapti
Not mentioned
Dosha Pitta-Rakta
Lakshana
- A scar-like needle hole in krishnamandala
- Warm tears
- Severe pain
Divisions
Not mentioned
Prognosis
Generally, it is asadhya
But if not in the central part, not deeply inflamed, not suppurative/ no discharge, not with severe pain, it can be treated and cured in some cases
Chikithsa- Ayurvedic Treatment for Keratitis
Samana
Seka with thriphalakwatha, ulpaladikwatha
Anjana with thriphalamashi
Sodhana
Snehapanam with thiktaghrutam
Virechanam
Jaloukavacharanam
Siravedha
Commonly used medicines
Jeevnthyadi Ghrutham
Jatheemukuladi varti
Dantavarti
Tamalapatradi gutika
Ilaneer kuzhamp
Brands available
AVS Kottakal
AVP Coimbatore
Oushadhi
Home remedies
Prevention
Apart from viral keratitis, most people can avoid other forms of the condition by following good contact lens hygiene.
People can help to prevent keratitis by:
- following the advice of their eye doctor about how to wear, replace, store, and clean contact lenses
- washing and drying hands with soap and water before touching the eyes or contact lenses
- avoiding sleeping in contact lenses
- keeping water away from contact lenses, such as when showering or swimming
- cleaning contact lenses with contact lens solution
- visiting an eye doctor regularly, and contacting them with any symptoms that give concern
Keratitis can affect people who do not wear contact lenses. It is important to protect the eyes from the damage that can cause the condition.
Steps to protect the eyes include:
- wearing protective eyewear if working with plants or trees
- wearing sunglasses when exposed to bright sunlight
- being aware of anything that can cause an allergy, and avoiding them if possible
- eating a diet that includes vitamin A, which can be found in milk and eggs
It may also be possible to reduce the risk of viral keratitis. People should take care not to touch the eyes or the area around them, and only use eye drops that have been prescribed by a doctor
Diet
- To be avoided
Any hard item, tough to bite or chew.
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
Junk foods- cause a disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
Milk and milk products – increase Kapha and cause respiratory problems
Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Green gram, soups, honey, fruits and vegetables, cow’s ghee.
Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain, etc
Behavior:
Protect yourself from too much heat or cold.
Avoid head bath and tongue scraping.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight, wind, rain, or dust.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid stress.
Avoid holding or forcing urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze, etc.
Avoid sleeping late night and day sleep.
Yoga
- IN PERSONS WITH SEVERE INFLAMMATORY DISEASES AND EYE DISEASES, EXERCISE IS NOT RECOMMENDED
Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.
Nadisudhi pranayama
Suryanamaskara
Bhujangasana
Simple exercises for lungs and heart health
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Research articles
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