Abstract:
According to WHO, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness [12.3%] worldwide.
Present available treatment options in allopathic medicine for glaucoma have very little
encouraging results for neuro protection. This case report narrates a motivating experience in
treating glaucoma with an integrative approach with Ayurved and modern Ophthalmology. A 42
year-old, married, non-smoking, non-alcoholic Asian female housewife presented with
symptoms of dimness of vision in both eyes [LE>RE]and moderate headache. On examination,
she had vision RE-6/36, LE-counting ngers, both eyes IOP before mydriasis on NCT was 18
mmHg, which was found to be raised to RE-25mmHg, LE-22mmHg after mydriasis. The
anterior chambers of her both eyes were shallow, Fundus revealed bilateral glaucomatous
cupping [RE-0.9:1, LE-0.7:1]. Patient had similar symptoms experienced in the past, for which
she had taken modern medicinal treatment for short and at irregular intervals. She had undergone
visual eld analysis and OCT of both eyes six years ago, stating bilateral glaucomatous advance
changes. She had started local antiglaucoma eye drops with which the IOP came to near normal.
[RE-18.9 mmHg, Le-14.6 mmHg] The patient was advised to take Ayurvedic treatment along
with routine antiglaucoma medicines specially from systemic health and neuro protection point
of view. She was also advised on systemic Shaman cikitsa and local treatments including
Bidalaka, Shirotarpana, Anjan. She also underwent Basti cikitsa for 16 days. She responded well
to this integrative line of treatment. Marked visual recovery was noted both on Snellen's chart as
well as in eld analysis within 4 months after starting Ayurvedic treatment which sustained
thereafter.
