Effect of Netrapichu with Durvaghritha in Dry Eye Syndrome - A Clinical Trial

Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms in which tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface. It is accompanied by increased osmolarity of tear film and inflammation of ocular surface. Symptoms of DES resembles with the symptoms of Sushkakshipaka. In Ayurvedic classics, Acharya Susrutha considered it as Vata dominant whereas Acharya Vagbhata as Vata Pitta dominant disease. Considering this as a Vata Pitta predominant disorder, its management includes drugs which are Seetha, Snigdha, Brimhana, Rasayana and having Vata Pittahara property. The ingredients of durva ghrita are Durva, yashtimadhu, milk and Goghritha which have the above said properties, therefore the study is planned to assess the effect of Netrapichu with durva ghritha for reducing signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome. The study design is a clinical trial done in 42 patients in the age group of 20-80 years with Dry eye syndrome from Out Patient Department and Inpatient Department of Shalakyathantra, Government Ayurveda College Hospital Thiruvananthapuram. Study tool was Schirmer-I score. Effect of the treatment assessed on the improvement in the subjective symptoms like foreign body sensation, feeling of dryness, irritation and the above said objective parameter. Netrapichu done with Durvaghritha in each eye for 30 minutes twice daily for 14 days. The participants assessed on 0th and 15th day of treatment. The collected data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed Rank test and Paired t test according to the variable. The intervention was statistically significant in reducing the signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome.