Ayurvedic treatment for Optic Atrophy

Optic Atrophy (also called Optic Nerve Atrophy) is a clinical condition where the optic nerve cells deteriorate. The optic nerve is one of the cranial nerves starting from the brain. The optic nerve begins as a bundle of nerve fibres from the brain and ends in the retina of the eyeball as nerve endings.

There are no branches to the optic nerve. The nerve impulse formed inside the eyeball on the retina gets carried to the brain through this nerve. After this nerve impulse reaches your brain, it changes to the actual visual sense. Any defect in this nerve will affect the conduction of visual impulses to your brain. Hence, the formation of a sense of vision becomes impossible. Thus, the main symptom of optic atrophy is defective vision.

In optic atrophy, the pathological change is a deterioration of nerve cells. This deterioration may happen due to various reasons. Mainly, there are two groups :

• Primary optic atrophy
• Secondary optic atrophy

In primary optic atrophy, the pathology starts in the optic nerve itself. In secondary optic atrophy, the damage develops secondary to any other diseases. It may be

• systemic disease such as diabetes mellitus, cardiac problems, hypertension, etc.
• diseases of neighboring structures such as ear, PNS (Paranasal sinuses), etc
• other ocular diseases like glaucoma, papilledema, optic neuritis, retinitis pigmentosa, etc.

Optic atrophy is a disease affecting the optic nerve, which is the second of the 12 cranial nerves. Originating from the brain, it terminates within the eyeball. The primary function of the optic nerve is to transmit images or impulses from inside the eyeball to the brain, making it crucial for vision. Any disease directly impacting this nerve results in visual impairment.

The optic nerve, unlike other cranial nerve branches, is a bundle of nerves without further divisions. It starts from the brain and ends in the eyeball, with no branches supplying other structures. Therefore, any disease affecting this nerve directly affects vision. Optic atrophy can manifest as primary or secondary. Primary optic atrophy originates from the optic nerve itself, leading to severe vision loss and defects. Secondary optic atrophy develops as a complication of other diseases affecting nearby structures, the central nervous system, sinusitis, or nutritional deficiencies.

In Ayurveda, treating optic atrophy involves focusing on making existing cells healthier rather than regenerating nerve cells, which is nearly impossible. Resin drugs, which maintain the balance of the body’s doshas, are used. These drugs should have properties to act on ocular tissues (chakrusha) and maintain doshic balance (resina and semen). Treatment must differentiate between primary and secondary optic atrophy. For primary atrophy, focus solely on treating the optic nerve, while for secondary atrophy, address both the underlying disease and optic atrophy.

Treatment should not be limited to the eye but also include procedures targeting the brain stem. Ayurvedic treatments like shirodhara act effectively on the brain stem. Additionally, oral medications and ophthalmic medications are used together for optimal results. Lifestyle modifications, such as dietary adjustments and activities promoting central nervous system health, can also aid in managing optic atrophy.

However, it’s crucial to seek guidance from experts to tailor treatments to individual constitutions and disease stages. Proper selection of dietary items and activities suitable for the patient’s body constitution and disease condition is essential for effective management.