Retinal degenerative diseases have become quite common across the globe, with millions falling prey to it over time. These diseases can cause varying degrees of vision loss, including complete blindness. Retinal degenerative disease is a debilitating condition with a major impact on daily life. From performing basic functions to personal independence and mental health, vision loss because of these diseases can impact a wide range of everyday tasks such as reading, watching TV & driving.
Most common amongst retinal degenerative diseases are Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). The common factor to all retinal degenerative diseases is the damage to photoreceptor cells of the retina, which malfunction and disappear. The photoreceptor cells are the light sensing cells of the retina, the delicate nerve layer that lines the back of the eye. Under normal vision conditions, the retina’s photoreceptor cells sense light (similar to the way a camera captures a picture), initiate a cascade of electrical impulses that are sent through the retina and the optic nerve to the brain and create an image. When the photoreceptor cells malfunction due to any of the degenerative diseases, the image that is received is blurred, distorted or completely unseen. This is often a progressive disease in which the person will suffer a continuous decline in vision.
Given the magnitude and severity of the problem, all streams of medicine are investigating new treatment strategies to solve this and Ayurveda is in the forefront of this research. Leading Ayurvedic Hospitals in Kerala conduct clinics to detect this degeneration and ensure that effective therapy is employed to arrest the disease.
