MYOPIA MANAGEMENT WITH AYURVEDIC OCULAR THERAPEUTICS: A CLINICAL STUDY

An open-label double-arm randomised study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Drishtipradavarti Aschyotana (eye drops) with and without Mahatriphaladi ghrita Tarpana (a nourishing topical ocular therapy) in the management of simple myopia. The study was comprised of two groups with twenty subjects each. Group A subjects were administered Drishtipradavarti Aschyotana (eye drops), and subjects of group B were administered Drishtipradavarti Aschyotana and Mahatriphaladi ghrita Tarpana. The total duration of treatment in both groups was restricted to 90 days. Subjects under the age group of 18-25 years with refractive error up to - 6 D were included in the study; out of the 45 subjects registered for the study, 40 completed the treatment. The parameters, namely, visual acuity, clinical refraction, indistinct distant vision, headache and eye strain, were evaluated statistically before and after the treatment along with the axial length and corneal radius of curvature findings to observe if there is any reduction in axial length and corneal curvature, after the treatment. The results showed a statistically highly significant reduction in symptoms (p = < 0.001 and p = < 0.01) and visual acuity (p = < 0.001) and a significant reduction in clinical refraction (p = < 0.05) in both groups. Group B showed comparatively better results. No significant changes were noticed in axial length and corneal radius of curvature values after the treatment (p = > 0.05). The results indicate that this Ayurvedic management can be utilised as a safe and potent treatment to control Myopia.