Abstract

A CRITICAL REVIEW ON ANTERIOR UVEITIS AND IT’S AYURVEDIC APPROACH

Neha Bernwal* and B. Mukhopadhya

Abstract

Anterior uveitis denotes intraocular inflammation that involves the iris (iritis), anterior part of the ciliary body (anterior cyclitis), or both (iridocyclitis). It is the most common form of intraocular inflammation at uveitis centers worldwide. Anterior uveitis is usually the most easily managed form of uveitis. However, in some cases it can lead to sightthreatening and serious complications such as glaucoma, cataract, and cystoid macular edema. Also treatment modalities like steroids and immunomodulatory drugs have their own hazardous effects. Thus, there is a need of collaboration of different systems of medicine to overcome this overwhelming disease entity. Concept of Anterior Uveitis is not present in Ayurveda as such in modern ophthalmology. But there are certain concepts in Ayurvedic ophthalmology, which can explain the “Anterior Uveitis “thoroughly. Adhimantha is one of the diseases explained in Ayurveda, which can explain the disease “Anterior Uveitis” clearly on the basis of symptoms and signs explained. The present study is to bring forward the concept of Anterior Uveitis in Ayurveda with special reference to Pittaja and Raktaja Adhimantha.

Keywords: Anterior Uveitis, Steroids, Immunomodulatory Drugs, Ayurveda, Adhimantha.