An Ayurvedic Protocol to Manage Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy with Tractional Retinal Detachment
KD01-KD04
Correspondence
Krishnendu Sukumaran,
Research Coordinator, Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Research and Development Institute, Kizhakombu PO, Koothattukulam-686662, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
E-mail: clinicalresearch@sreedhareeyam.com
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) occurs in 50% of cases of diabetic retinopathy after 25 years of onset of diabetes. Neovascularization associated with diabetic retinopathy stimulates scar formation, which leads to retinal detachment, the separation of the neuro-sensory retina proper from the retinal pigment epithelium. Management options, which include pars plana vitrectomy, anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) injections, and pan-retinal LASER photocoagulation, are not always effective. Here, the present authors report a case of 41-year-old male who presented with foreign-body sensation for 1 year, photophobia for 8 months, and distorted image perception for 6 months. The patient was diagnosed as having Kacha (diminished vision) according to Ayurveda. He was managed using oral medications, viz., Samirapancakam Kashaya, Cirivilvadi Kashaya, and Laksha Jala, and external therapy, which comprised of local therapies for both the eyes and head. Assessment at discharge by fundus photography demonstrated reduction in retinal haemorrhages, and optical coherence tomography showed reduction in macular oedema and vitreo-macular traction.