Abstract
Introduction:
Primary open angle glaucoma is an insidious and chronic vision-threatening eye ailment due to neuro-retino-optic nerve degeneration, which may be due to the raised intraocular pressure (IOP) or due to independent factors. Management of glaucoma is mainly concentrated on lowering IOP that requires lifetime topical medication, different ocular medicaments for lowering of IOP, and surgical interventions, but it has its own limitations to control the progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON), and this is the reason behind the use of alternative neuroprotective adjuvants.
Aim:
To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Ayurvedic line of management of progressive GON.
Materials and Methods:
Ingredients of trial drug Vara Fort powder (_Chakshushya Rasayana_) were procured from the Institute Pharmacy, except _Swarnamakshika Bhasma_, which was purchased from Dhootapapeshwar Pharmaceuticals. The patients fulfilling inclusion criteria, attending outpatient and inpatient departments, irrespective of their sex, race, religion, occupation, etc., were selected and divided into two groups with open-labeled randomization. In Group A, in addition to betaxolol (0.1%) or timolol (0.5%) (non-iobrim), _Chakshushya Rasayana_ 6 g/day orally with _Triphala Ghrita_ and honey along with _Koshtha-Shuddhi_ (body-microchannel clearing treatment) protocol was tried. _Nasya_ (oleation through nasal route) with _Jeevantyadi Taila_ and _Tarpana_ (eye satiation) with _Go-Ghrita_ were also performed. In Group B (control), brimonidine (iobrim) 0.2% eye drop was used for 3 months.
Results:
Significant improvement was observed in subjective parameters in Group A such as blurred vision, frequent change of presbyopic glasses, and delayed dark adaptation.
Conclusion:
Chakshushya Rasayana, if administered in a systematic approach along with a modern topical betaxolol or timolol eye drops, has a definite role in improving the lost retinal sensitivity as much as up to 12 dB in 3 months duration.
Keywords: _Chakshushya Rasayana_, glaucoma, glaucomatous optic neuropathy, _Jeevantyadi Taila_, _Triphala Ghrita_, Ayurveda
- Adjuvant effect of Chakshushya Rasayana with beta-blocker eye drops in the management of progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy: An open-label randomized controlled trial - PMC
- PMCID: PMC5688835
- PMID: 29200751
- Ayu. 2016 Apr-Jun; 37(2): 125–134.
- doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_30_16
- full text article available