In our modern era, we are constantly surrounded by screens, resulting in many individuals experiencing eye-related issues such as dryness, mild pain, burning sensations, excessive watering, and more. Ayurveda offers natural ways to care for our eyes and prevent these symptoms. Here are some tips for improving eye health:

1. Eye Washing: Start your day by washing your eyes with cold water or Triphala water. This practice has an excellent soothing and strengthening effect on the eyes.
2. Leg Washing: Simply washing your legs can help eliminate heat from the body, providing a soothing effect on your eyes. Don’t forget to wash your legs after a long, tiring day!
3. Leg Massage: If time permits, massaging your legs with ghee can reduce stress and strengthen your eyes. Try to incorporate this into your nighttime routine.
4. Head Bath Temperature: Always use lukewarm or cold water for your head bath. Hot water can damage both your eyes and hair, according to Ayurveda.
5. Sleep Routine: Establish a proper sleep routine. Avoid going to sleep immediately after lunch and try not to stay awake too late at night.
6. Diet: Include one-year-old cereals like rice, wheat, barley, moong dal, and fresh vegetables cooked with a generous amount of ghee in your diet. Among fruits, Amla, pomegranate, and black raisins (munakka) are particularly beneficial for eye health. 
7. Reduce Salt Intake: Cutting down on salt and salty foods is important, as excess salt is not good for the eyes and can accelerate the aging process. Replacing common salt with rock salt (saindha namak) is particularly advantageous.
8. Gut Health: Healthy digestion is key to overall health, as stated in Ayurveda. Take care of your digestion by avoiding eating when previous food has not been fully digested, and be mindful of portion sizes.
9. Triphala and Mulethi Mix: Combine equal parts of Triphala and mulethi powder. Taking 1 teaspoon of this mix daily at night with a small amount of ghee (1 teaspoon) and honey (½ teaspoon) is a simple yet effective remedy for strengthening your eyes.

 Ayurvedic Remedies To Improve Eye Health

Several Ayurvedic therapies can help prevent and treat various eye-related diseases:

1. Nasya: Nasal drops are considered a pathway to the brain in Ayurveda, where all senses reside. Various medicated oils and ghee can be used for this purpose. For a healthy individual, using Anu Tail is recommended daily. Just add 2 drops of Anu Tail in each nostril after brushing your teeth. Avoid this if you have a cough, cold, or fever.
2. Netra Seka: This involves a slow and steady stream of liquids over the eye, such as rose water (gulab jal), milk (dugdha), Triphala water, medicated decoctions, and oils.
3. Anjan (Eye Application): Ayurveda recommends applying medicated kajal daily. Since eyes are easily affected by increased Kapha, regular cleansing is necessary.
4. Padabhyanga (Foot Massage): A daily foot massage using either plain ghee or medicated oils can help prevent neuropathies and cracks in the soles while improving vision.
5. Mukh Lepa: Applying various herbs to the facial skin not only enhances skin tone and glow but also improves sensory function. Ingredients such as sandalwood (chandan), vetiver, turmeric (haldi), and liquorice can be used with water or milk.
6. Bidalaka: This is the application of herbs on closed eyelids to calm irritation, reduce burning and pain, and improve vision.
7. Netrabasti: This is a widely used procedure for eye disorders. If you spend long hours in front of screens, performing Netrabasti for 2-3 days a month at a nearby Panchakarma center is a wonderful gift you can give to your eyes.

Regularly practicing eye exercises, such as Tratak Kriya from yoga, offers additional benefits for eye health. Therefore, enhance your eye health and achieve crystal-clear vision by embracing the wisdom of Ayurveda! Implement these natural remedies and holistic practices to nourish your eyes and to promote overall well-being.

Author – Dr. Prachi Parekh