The Ayurvedic anatomy of the eye is comprised of the three doshas, with a pitta-prominent constitution. Ayurvedic perspectives on eye health see the eye as an important sensory organ responsible for perception, indriya, as well as excellent indicators of overall well-being. Understanding Ayurvedic perspectives on eye composition and how eyes are affected by dosha imbalances, we can implement simple remedies to alleviate symptoms of discomfort and irritation.
Common Roots of Eye Discomfort
In the age of technology, we often find ourselves in front of screens for long periods of time, taking little to no breaks within our busy workdays or social media time. With our long commutes to and from work, school, or other daily outings, we engage our eyes intensely in order to be alert of our surroundings and drive as safely as possible. Although our productivity is helpful in making sure we get our daily tasks done and are aware of our surroundings, not taking time to rest the eyes can lead to symptoms of eye strain and irritation, dosha imbalances, and dull vision. Thankfully, Ayurveda can give us insight into how to address specific dosha imbalances in the eyes different remedies and preventative measures.
Common Symptoms of Eye Discomfort
Symptoms of excessive watering or itching in the eyes can manifest when the Kapha dosha is out of balance. When the Pitta dosha is imbalanced, it is more common for people to experience symptoms of burning in the eyes. Vata imbalances can lead to dryness in the eyes.
Ayurvedic Practices for Eye Health
While some of these lifestyle practices and Ayurvedic remedies are helpful in targeting specific doshic imbalances, we can effectively use remedies or make lifestyle changes to address symptoms of any root cause. Here are some direct ways to address specific doshic imbalances, which can be applied intuitively as seen fit.
In order to address symptoms of Kapha imbalances in the eyes, we can splash our eyes with water onto our eyes, opening our eyes so that some water can go in and offer a soothing effect. When experiencing symptoms of Pitta imbalances, we can use rose water eye drops to calm the eyes and offer a gentle moisturizing effect. When you’re experiencing symptoms related to Vata imbalances, take a break every couple of hours and hydrate to ensure that you are giving your eyes time to rest and digest.
The simplest and most effective remedy for overall symptoms of eye discomfort is putting a single drop of genuine castor oil into your eyes at night, and rubbing a drop of castor oil on the soles of your feet each night.
Article by Eliana Nunez
Published 07/20/2025
References:
Ayurvedic Insights: Comprehensive Approaches to Health and Wellness, Addition Publishing House, 2022.
Lad, Vasant. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1998. Print.
