Clinical Aspect of Diseases of Cornea in Ayurveda

Introduction: There are total seventy sixocular diseases described in Sushruta Samhita and 94 diseases in Astanga Sangrah & Astanga Hridya. This concept of classification of ocular disorders is well buttressed by classifying the disease as Sandhigata (Diseases affecting junctional areas of eye), Vartamagata (Diseases of eyelids), Shuklagata (Diseases of Sclera plus Conjunctiva), Krishnagata (Diseases of Cornea), Sarvagata (Diseases affecting all parts of Eye), Drishtigata (Diseases of Lens). Material and Methods: Extensive literary review of various text of Ayurveda in order to carve out a possible comparison of Ayurvedic Corneal Ophthalmological disorders with modern counterpart. Aims: To establish clinical correlation between diseases of Krishna mandala to disease of the cornea. Discussion: Classifications of corneal diseases in classical Ayurvedic texts are sequential and progressive in nature viz. one condition progress to the next corresponding stage. Acharya Sushruta described 4 types of diseases of cornea while Vagbhatta has enumerated 5 types. A conscious endeavor is made to correlate the Ayurvedic and modern corneal disorders in a complimentary manner. Conclusion: The congruent behavior of corneal disorders of Ayurved and modern is justified by the clinical symptomology, progression of the disease, prognostic reasons and relevant intervention. The integrated disease approach, treatment application and predicting prognosis will suffice the resultant outcome of the disease in a more favorable perspective which will herald a better approach in managing preventable corneal blindness.