A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON ABHISHYANDA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CONJUNCTIVITIS

Dr. Minakshi Dinkarrao Mendhe*

ABSTRACT

Acharya Nimi is considered as the expounder of this branch of Ayurveda. Among all these sense organs eyes are considered to be most important. Detailed description of anatomy of the eye and its various disorders in the initial chapters of the Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra itself is a strong supporter of this view. During Vedic period various references of eye ailments and their surgical management by Ashwini Kumaras are found viz. eyesight given to Rijashva, Paravrija, Kanva etc. In Upanishada period also Netropanishada and Aranyaka Upanishada have references regarding eyes. The other ancient Acharyas related with Shalakya Tantra are Videha, Krishnatreya, Karala, Shonaka, Kankayana, Bhoja, Gargeya, Galava etc. Then comes the glorious period of Samhitas, when Ayurveda attained the status of special branch of science as medical science. Among the available Samhitas, Sushruta Samhita gives a wide description of the diseases of Shalakya Tantra. Among them also due consideration has been given to diseases of eye and their management. The diseases of eye are much more important than any other physical disability, since the loss of vision completely disables a person. Diseases of eyes are classified by Sushruta according to the site of lesion. Ayurveda allocates prime place to sense organs, has recognized that among all sense organs, organ of sight is the greatest gift of God and it is our duty to protect and preserve the eyes. The eye is one of the most delicate organ of the body and any sort of symptom make all of us running to the ophthalmologist. This vital organ is exposed to different environmental factors. Sushruta has described the 76 types of eye diseases in his classicaltext Sushruta Samhita. These eye diseases were classified according to the structures affected in the eye. One group of eye diseases known as „Sarvagata Roga‟ includes the Netrabhishyanda. Netrabhishyanda is explained under the heading Sarvagata Roga because all the eye disease under this heading are occupying most of the part of the eyeball like mandala, sandhi and patala. Out of all these diseases Netrabhishyanda is important diasease. Therefore a wise clinician should treat a case of developing Abhishyanda promptly for the benefit of the patient. These Netrabhishyada are classified into four types according to dosha predominance viz. Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja and Raktaja Abhishyanda. Abhishyanda is more or less comparable with conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is a nonspecific term used to describe an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which can be caused by a wide range of conditions. It is commonly referred to as "red eye" or "pink eye." Conjunctivitis may result from primary involvement of the conjunctival tissue or may occur secondary to other ocular or systemic conditions that produce conjunctival inflammation. Conjunctivitis is treated almost exclusively on an outpatient basis. However, infants with neonatal conjunctivitis (Ophthalmia neonatorum) are generally treated as inpatients

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