Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the normally round cornea thins and begin to bulge out into a cone-like shape. This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye on its way to the light sensitive causing distorted vision. Keratoconus can occur in one or both eyes and often begins during a person’s teens or early 20s.

 WHAT CAUSES KERATOCONUS?

• excessive eye rubbing,
• a history of poorly fitted contact lenses
• chronic eye infection like keratoconjunctivitis

KERATOCONUS IN AYURVEDA

In keratoconus, the patient will be experiencing blurred vision. The condition can be correlated to Timira. Based on the sign of keratoconus, the conical thinning of cornea, it can be correlated to Vataja timira. Vata, pitta and kapha are the three elements responsible for the normal functioning of the body. Timira is classified into three types based on these elements. Derangement or increase in vata dosha will be leading to such degenerative changes.Also cornea is the region wherein you will find the predominance of vata dosha.

 CAUSES FOR KERATOCONUS AS PER AYURVEDA

The main cause for keratoconus can be prolonged allergy to the nose and eyes. If such people strain themselves toomuch by looking at tiny objects and too bright objects the progression of the disease will be faster.

 The causes which can trigger the vata dosha like

• insufficient intake of food or fasting,
• excess consumption of dry foods,
• keeping awake at night time,
• excess grief, anger, constipated bowels,
• less intake of water or fluids

These factors will be indirectly affecting the eyes.It disturbs the stability of the doshas in the eyes by causing blockage of channels in the eyes and lack of nourishment to the eyes.

 AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO KERATOCONUS

Vata is the main culprit in this disease. The treatments should be done to control the vata dosha.We need to ensure the proper movement of vata dosha for which vatanulomana treatments has to be given. The digestive power of the patient should be brought to normalcy. Then treatments to keep the vata dosha under normalcy should be performed. This is possible through brimhana line of treatment(nourishing treatments which will ensure the control of vata dosha)