A REVIEW ON PATHOGENESIS OF PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA: ON BASIS OF AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of visual loss in the world. The current approach to manage primary open angle glaucoma are primarily based on reduction of intraocular pressure, its most significant controllable risk factor. It is being increasingly felt that IOP lowering approach needs to be supplemented by measures which can deal with all the known factors involved in pathogenesis of glaucoma. Even in patients those who respond well to IOP lowering drugs, it is more rational to adopt an integrated approach which takes care of multiple risk factors for glaucoma. This type of glaucoma can be correlated to Kaphaja Adhimantha as there is negligible pain or no pain and give rise to chronic visual defect. Ayurveda can play a significant role in the integrated management of this condition. Hence a minor attempt to correlate the information on pathogenesis available in biomedical system and system of Ayurveda in order to provide an integrated perspective which can form the basis for further interdisciplinary studies.