Management of primary open-angle glaucoma with Ayurvedic medicines: A case report

Abstract

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease in ophthalmology, which has a characteristic optic neuropathy along with raised Intraocular Pressure (IOP). Glaucoma results in the irreversible loss of vision and field defects due to the death of retinal ganglion cells. Despite the considerable drug development activity in glaucoma, there is a high failure rate in researches that focused on developing neuroprotective treatment options. A 65-year-old male patient, a known case of open-angle glaucoma presented in the outpatient department with complaints of the progressive painful loss of vision in both eyes with a mild headache and redness along with reports of perimetry that showed visual field defects. He was diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma with gonioscopic confirmation and history. It is characterized by the presence of pain as a distinctive symptom in conjunction with visual impairment or loss. Considering the symptomatology and after examination, the Ayurveda treatment was planned. Triphala churna, Pravala panchamruta vati, Chandraprabha vati, Amalaki churna, and Saptamrita roupya churna with Pathyadi kwatha in the morning and evening and Triphala churna with Aragvadha fanta at night before sleep were started and continued for five months. Amalaki churna with Goghrita was prescribed for another 6 months. The perimetry showed improvement in the visual fields with improvement in vision from 6/24-6/18p in the left eye and 6/60-6/36 in the right eye. This case report will give a direction to serve the purpose of neuroprotection along with control of IOP in glaucoma.