Overview

Optic atrophy is a condition resulting from long-term damage to optic nerve fibers, leading to vision issues like blindness. The optic nerve is made of over one million nerve fibers that transmit light signals from the retina to the brain.

Causes

Optic atrophy is caused by various factors,

• Including poor blood flow 

• Shock

• Toxins 

• Radiation 

• Eye diseases like glaucoma 

• Optic nerve inflammation 

• Tumors 

• Congenital optic neuropathies 

• Extrinsic compression

• Intrinsic optic nerve tumors

• Vascular disease

• Inflammatory disease

• Infection 

• Toxic and nutritional optic neuropathies 

• Trauma 

• Retinal disease.

Symptoms

Loss of vision can vary in nature and severity. Color vision, side vision, and central vision can all be affected by damage to the optic nerve. When the optic nerve's capacity to transmit signals to the brain is compromised, a person might experience the following symptoms,

• Lack of peripheral (side) vision

• Blurry vision 

• Changed perception of color

• Reduction in vision in the afflicted eye. 

• Nystagmus, or uncontrollably moving eyes from side to side, is one possible symptom in children. 

Ayurvedic View

Netra shushkata- aggravated vata dosha reaches akshi, causes shoshana (depletion, suction or drying) of rasa (nutrition) that supplies the eye leading to vision impairment, this is optic atrophy. Ayurveda way of approach is to correct agni (metabolism), improve the vision, reduce the associated symptoms and prevent the further progression and complication by ayurvedic panchakarma treatment and local treatment done to eye.

Ayurvedic Treatments

Tarpanam   Sekam   Nasyam   Thalam   Shirodhara

Naturopathy Treatments

Enema   Eye packs   Mud therapy   Reflexology   Acupuncture   Diet therapy   Clinical yoga   Cyclic meditation   Mind sound resonance technique   Pranayama   Kriyas