AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF VERNAL KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS / KAPHAJA ABHISHYANDA: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is the commonest allergic eye disease in childhood. The major complaints of VKS patients are intense itching, tearing, photophobia and mucous discharge. This condition can be correlated with Kaphaja Abhishyanda (Kapha dominant conjunctivitis) in Ayurvedic texts. Kriyakalpa (ocular therapeutic procedures) procedure, along with oral medications, successfully manages symptoms and reduces the recurrence rate. A nine-year-old female patient consulted the eye OPD of the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, with chief complaints of atikandu (excessive itching), akshiraga (redness in the eyes) and jalsrava (watery secretion) in both eyes since three months. Slit lamp examination revealed the presence of gelatinous opacification (approx. 2 mm in size) at the limbus, hyperaemia in the palpebral conjunctiva and triangular congestion in the bulbar conjunctiva. The rest of the eye assessment was normal. Owing to the symptoms and signs, the case was diagnosed as VKC, which can be correlated with Kaphaja Abhishyanda. Hence this patient was treated with Kriyakalpa (ocular therapeutic procedures) like Ashchyotana (eye drops), Nasyam (medications through nasal route), Vidalaka (Application of medicated paste on the outer part of the eye), etc., along with oral medications. Kriyakalpas (ocular therapeutic procedures), as well as internal medications, give significant results in the management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.