Abstract

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF LITERATURE OF ARMA (PTERYGIUM) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AYURVED AND MODERN SCIENCE

Dr. Mahesh Sudhakar Dolas* and Dr. Santosh Jindas Sanghavi

ABSTRACT

Arma is a disease of Shukla mandala. In Ayurveda it has beendescribed under Shuklagta Sadhya Vyadhi. This is a disease in which,a wing like triangular fibro-vascular layer or structure graduallyencroaching towards the Krisna Mandala from either Kaneenika (Innercanthus) or Apanga Sandhi (outer canthus) of the eye. If this layerinvades the cornea (Krisna Mandala) which is transparent in naturecauses damage of the transparency of that part of cornea and therebymay cause disturbance in vision. On the basis of signs and symptomsdescribed by the modern medical science, the disease ‘Arma’ can becorrelated with Pterygium. Pterygium is one of the very commonlyencountered ocular conditions in our country, especially affectingpeople of low socioeconomic strata. It amounts to significant visualmorbidity of our population. Proper understanding of the epidemiologyand risk factors of this condition is essential for planning appropriate measures to prevent itsoccurrence and thereby reducing the physical and financial burden to the society. The role ofprolonged sunlight and UV light exposure is a proven risk factor. Patient working outdoorsshould be counseled about the importance of wearing protective eye gears. It should beemphasized that such protective measures can not only delay the onset but also theprogression of pterygium to some extent. Adequate management of asymptomatic dry eye ismandatory especially in patients working outdoors, as it can play a contributory role andhence the importance of dry eye evaluation in all cases of pterygium. Even though most of the study populations were from lower altitudes, the role of high altitude in the genesis ofpterygium definitely needs to be considered. Though co morbid conditions like hypertensionand diabetes do not play any role in the initiation and progression of pterygium, they can stillcontribute further to the visual morbidity. As pterygium is usually a bilateral disease and thedevelopment of one eye always precedes the other, educating the patient can delay theprogression in the affected eye and also to reduce the risk of pterygium developing in theother eye to some extent.

Keywords: Arma, Pterygium, Chikitsa.