Disorders Affecting Eye Junctions And Eyelids

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Netra Sandhis are the junctions of various parts of the eyes.
Netra Sandhis or the junctions of the eye are 6 in number and occur between different parts of the eye.

Parts of eyes

Pakshma – means eyelashes
Vartma – means eyelids or palpabrae
Shukla Bhaga – Sclera or the white portion of the eye
Krishna Bhaga – Iris or black portion of the eye
Drishti – Aperture or slit of the iris
Kaneenikaa – Meeting place of the two eyelids on the inner side (this itself is a sandhi, because it is a meeting place of two structures or parts)
Apanga – Meeting place of the two eyelids on the outer side (this, like kaneenikaa is a sandhi because it is a meeting place of two structures or parts)

6 Netra Sandhis

The 6 Netra Sandhis are as enumerated below –

Pakshma Vartma Gata Sandhi – This sandhi is the junction or meeting place of eyelashes and eyelids or palpabrae.
Vartma Shukla Gata Sandhi – This sandhi is the junction or meeting place of eyelids and Sclera.
Shukla Krushna Gata Sandhi – This sandhi is the junction or meeting place of Sclera and Iris. This can also be correlated with the Sclero-Corneal Junction or Limbus. But since Cornea is transparent, it is wise to take Iris as Krishna Bhaga.
Krushna Drushti Gata Sandhi – This sandhi is the junction between the Iris and aperture / slit of the Iris. This Sandhi represents the margins of the Pupil. Pupil is a small opening at the centre of the Iris.
Kaneenikaa Sandhi – This sandhi is the junction or meeting place of the upper and lower eyelids on the inner side of the eye, i.e. near the nose (inner canthus or inner angle of the eye).
Apanga Sandhi – This sandhi is the junction or meeting place of the upper and lower eyelids on the outer side of the eye (outer canthus or the outer angle of the eye).

Netra Sandhigata Rogas

Netra Sandhigata Rogas – Diseases occurring in the junctions of the eye
Diseases occurring in the junctions of the eye are 9 in number. They are as mentioned below –

Pooyalasa
Upanaha
Pooya sraava
Shleshma sraava
Rakta sraava
Pitta sraava
Parvanee
Alajee
Krimi granthi

Pooyalasa

Puyalasa is a swelling which occurs in the inner angle (inner canthus) of the eye or kaneenika sandhi (meeting place of upper and lower eyelids on the inner side of the eye). This swelling gradually undergoes suppuration followed by discharge of thick, viscous and foul smelling pus.

This condition can be compared to –

Acute Dacryocystitis
Chronic Dacryocystitis
Lacrimal Abscess

Upanaha

Upanaha is a big cystic swelling occurring in the netra sandhi (junction of the eye), in the inner canthus of the eye to be precise. This swelling does not undergo suppuration. It is devoid of pain but is associated with itching.
Upanaha is correlated with Lacrimal Cyst.

Srava

The vitiated vata and other doshas (pitta, kapha) traveling through the ashru margas (lacrimal or tear ducts), on reaching the junctions of the eye (netra sandhi), kaneenika sandhi (inner canthus) to be precise, will cause discharges from the inner canthus without pain. Netra Srava is also called as Netra Nadis.

Netra Srava or discharges occurring from the junctions of the eye (inner canthus) are of 4 types. They are:

Puya Srava

Suppuration in the sandhi (inner canthus) will cause many types of puya srava or discharge of pus.

Shleshma Srava

White colored, thick, sticky and painless discharges from inner canthus is called shleshma srava.

Rakta Srava

The discharges occurring due to vitiated blood, occurring along with blood, excessive in quantity, hot in touch and dilute in nature is called rakta srava.

Pitta Srava

Yellowish blue watery discharges, hot on touch is called pitta srava.

Parvani and Alaji

Parvani – A thin, circular, copper colored (red colored) swelling occurring in the Krishna-shukla gata sandhi (sclera-corneal junction) is called Parvani. Parvani is caused by vitiated blood and is associated with burning sensation and pain.

Alaji – A similar swelling resembling Parvani which occurs in the Krishna-shukla gata sandhi which is thick and stout (in comparison to thin swelling in parvani) is called Alaji. It has the same symptoms as that of Parvani.

Parvani and Alaji can be correlated to –

Marginal ulcers of Cornea (Keratitis Marginalis)
Keratitis Marginalis Superficialis
Keratitis Marginalis Profunda
Diciform Keratitis

Krimigranthi or Janthugranthi

Small cysts caused by the many types of worms (parasites, microorganisms) in the vartma-pakshma gata sandhi (meeting place of eyelids and eye lashes) and vartma-shukla gata sandhi (meeting place of eyelids and sclera) are called Krimi Granthi or Jantu Granthi. This condition is associated with itching in the mentioned junctions. The worms eat up the mentioned junction areas and enter deep into the eye and also destroy the deeper structures (parts) of the eye.

Krimi Granthi can be compared to –

Pediculi ciliaris
Blepharitis
Ulcerative Squamous

Netra Vartma

Netra Vartmagata Rogas – Disorders Affecting Eyelids

Netra Vartma is the names given to the eyelid. They are two in number, an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid. They are called urdhwa vartma and adho vartma in Ayurveda respectively.
Read – Classification of Eye Diseases As Per Ayurveda

Eyelids contribute to the Vartma Mandala
Mandala means circles. Vartma Mandala is the circle made up of eyelids. Both eyelids together roughly appear as a circle.
Read – Triphala Home Remedy For Eye Care

Eyelids contribute to two sandhis (joints of the eyes)
Pakshma Vartma Gata Sandhi
This is the meeting place of Pakshma (eyelashes) and Vartma (eyelids or palpabrae) of the eyes.

Vartma Shukla Gata Sandhi –
This is the meeting place of eyelids and Shukla bhaga (Sclera), the white of the eye.
Read – Netra Sandhigata Rogas – Disorders Affecting The Junctions Of The Eye

Eyelids form the Panchama and Shashta Patala (Fifth and Sixth Layers according to Ayuredic Anatomy)

Fifth and sixth Patala (layers of the eyes) constitute the Vartmaas (eyelids). They are called Vartma Patalas. Fifth layer form the upper eyelid. Sixth layer forms the lower eyelid.
Read – Anatomy of Eye: Netra Rachana: Ayurveda Perspective

Modern Correlation –
These two layers can be compared with the eyelids or Palpabrae of the eyes.

They form Kaninika and Apanga i.e. the inner and outer angles of the eye

Kaneenikaa (inner canthus) –
It is the inner angle of the eye. It is formed by the junction of both eyelids near the nose. Kaneenika is thus the sandhi (joint) present in the eyes, at the level of the nose and inner end of eyebrow. They are 2 in number and located in the medial side of eye on either side.

Apaanga (outer canthus) –
It is the outer angle of the eye. It is formed by junction of both eyelids towards the ear. It is thus the joint present in the eyes away from the nose, and near the outer end of the eyebrow. They are 2 in number and located in lateral side of eye on either side.
Read – Netra Tarpana Treatment For Eye Care Benefits, How To Do?

Vartmagata Rogas

Vartmagata Rogas – Diseases of the Eyelids
Pathogenesis of disorders of eyelids
Vitiated doshas, either singly or collectively get spread over and lodged in eyelids and the blood vessels of the eyelids. These doshas cause various kinds of disorders related to eyelids.

Skin, muscles, blood and fat tissues located in the eyelids get afflicted by the vitiated doshas and take part in the causation of diseases. Doshas increase the quantity of muscles and fat tissue located in the eyelids and cause protuberances. Totally 21 diseases are caused in the eyelids.
Read – Eye Diseases Causes, Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Treatment, Herbs

Name of disorders of eyelids with probable modern correlation

Utsangini – Chalizion
Kumbhika – Internal stye
Pothaki – Trachoma / Granular lids
Vartma sharkara – Granular form of lids
Arsho vartma – papillary form
Shushkarsha – chronic papillary forms
Anjana Namika – External stye
Vahala vartma / Bahala vartma – Multiple stye / chalazion
Vartmavabandhaka – Non-inflammatory edema of the eyelids
Klishta vartma – Angio-neurotic edema
Vartma kardama – Non-ulcerative Blepharitis (read about Blepharitis inayurveda)
Shyava vartma – Ulcerative Blepharitis
Praklinna vartma – Blepharon
Apariklinna vartma – Blepharophimosis
Vatahata vartma – Paralysis of VII Cranial Nerve supplying Orbicularis Palpebrum muscle
Arbuda – Tumors of the eyelids
Nimisha – Affections of the III Cranial Nerve supplying Levator Palpabrae muscle
Vartmarsha – Molluscum Contagiosum / Warts of eyelids
Lagana – Meibomium cyst / Molluscum simplex
Visa Vartma – Xanthalasma
Pakshma Kopa – Trichiasis, Districhiasis, Entropion
Read – Ayurveda Eye Treatment Types, Methods – Ashtanga Hrudaya Sutrasthana 23

Dosha relation and prognosis

Dosha Relation in causation of disorders of eyelids and prognosis

Tridoshaja Sadhya

Below mentioned disorders are caused by simultaneous vitiation of all three doshas and are curable.

Utsangini, Kumbhika
Vartma Sharkara, Vahala vartma
Vartma bandha, Vartma kardama, Aklinna vartma
Shushkarsha, Arsho vartma, Shyava vartma
Arbuda, Vartmarsha, Visa vartma
Read – Computer Vision Syndrome: Causes, Ayurvedic Remedies, Tips

Tridoshaja Yapya

Disorders caused by vitiated tridoshas but are manageable, not curable. Pakshmakopa

Raktaja sadhya

Disorders caused by vitiated blood and are curable.

Anjananamika
Klishta vartma
Read – Watery Eyes: Causes, Ayurvedic Treatment, Remedies

Kaphaja sadhya

Disorders caused by vitiated kapha and are curable.

Lagana
Pothaki
Pariklinna vartma

Vataja Asadhya

Disorders caused by vitiated vata and are incurable.

Vatahata Vartma
Nimisha
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu) – Email / Skype