Effectiveness Of Selected Ayurveda Treatment Protocol In Improving Visual Acuity In Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a degenerative disorder affecting the macula, characterized by the presence of specific clinical findings, including drusen and RPE changes, in the absence of another disorder. Heredity, nutrition, smoking, hypertension, exposure to sunlight, hyperopia, and cataract particularly nuclear opacity have been proposed as risk factors in the pathogenesis of ARMD. Common visual complaints of Dry-ARMD are mild to moderate gradual loss of vision, distorted vision, seeing straight lines as wavy, bent, or fuzzy, and difficulty in near work due to central shadowing. Current treatments include Vitamin, antioxidant supplementation, intravitreal injection & photocoagulation. In Ayurveda, it can be taken as the saadam of darsanendriya resulting from the depletion of dhatus in old age. The gradual progressive painless loss of vision is the characteristic feature of pathology found in timira, kacha, linganasa. The pathogenesis of Dry-ARMD suggests the involvement of Tridoshas predominantly Kapha- Vata dosha. Thus, the basic treatment strategy adopted should be kapha vata samana, sodhana of excess meda kapha, Chakshushya and Rasayana. Anjanam & nasyam are mentioned for samanya thimira chikilsa in Ashtanga Hrdaya Uttara Sthana. Patients within the age group of 50 to 70 years diagnosed with Dry-ARMD will be selected based on inclusion criteria, attending OPD and IPD of Shalakyatantra, Govt. Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram will be subjected to Rasakadi Churnanjanam, Bhringaraja Taila Prathimarsa nasya , and internal administration of Amalaka Rasayana for 3 months. Clinical evaluation and investigations will be done before the commencement of interventions and 3 months after treatment & follow-up will be done 1 month after that. Results will be statistically analyzed after the study by one-way ANOVA test.