Abstract:

Timira is a significant Drishti gata roga that is defined in Ayurvedic texts, which is a progressive dulling of sight, which may develop into blindness in case of improper treatment. Ayurvedic writers of the contemporary era have equated Prathama Patalagata Timira to simple myopia, which is a refractive error whereby parallel rays of light are focused before the retina and cause blurred vision at a distance with sharp vision at close distance. It has become a worldwide public health issue where the prevalence has been increasing rapidly, and visual morbidity is very high and the conventional therapy has been based primarily on optical correction and refractive surgery. Ayurveda provides a similar explanatory system in relation to dosha imbalance, dhatu kshaya and srotodushti and suggests local and systemic treatments that should help to regain visual activity and avoid exacerbation.

In this conceptual review examines the concept of Timira, particularly on myopia, by referring to the thirty-four sources. It gives a summary of classical accounts of Timira, myopia correlations, convergences of aetiology and pathogenesis and summarises evidence of clinical research on Ayurvedic therapy of Netra Tarpana, Nasya, Aschyotana, Rasayana and eye exercises. The existing evidence indicates that Ayurvedic treatments are regular in subjective symptoms and visual acuity enhancement in simple myopia or Prathama Patalagata Timira, but rarely produce significant changes in dioptric power and axial length and their methodological quality is inconsistent. A more integrative approach based on the integration of modern optical correction with the evidence-based Ayurvedic treatments and lifestyle recommendations could provide a more comprehensive and preventive approach to treating myopia.

Keywords:

Timira, myopia, Prathama Patalagata Timira, Netra Tarpana, refractive error, Kriyakalpa, Ayurveda.

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