SCLERAL DISEASES IN AYURVEDA (Śukla-gata Roga)

Diseases of the sclera (the white, fibrous outer layer of the eyeball) are known as Śukla-gata rogas in Ayurveda. These are conditions affecting the Śukla-maṇḍala, one of the five anatomical divisions of the eye as per Ayurveda.

Below is a structured chart of scleral diseases with their Ayurvedic names, clinical features, modern correlation, and Ayurvedic management based on Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and other classical texts.

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🟡 SCLERAL DISEASES IN AYURVEDA (Śukla-gata Roga)

Ayurvedic Name	Modern Correlation	Features (Lakṣaṇa)	Doṣa Involvement	Management (Cikitsā)
Śuklārma	Pinguecula / Pterygium	Small growths on sclera, pale yellowish, painless	Kapha + Vāta	- Lekhana with herbal paste (e.g., Saindhava, Haridra) - Tarpana with Triphalā Ghṛta - Kṣāra Karma in advanced cases
Śuktikā	Scleromalacia / Scleral plaques	Degeneration of scleral tissue, grayish discoloration	Vāta + Pitta	- Sneha pana with Mahātikta Ghṛta - Seka, Tarpana with cooling dravyas - Internal: Gudūcī, Śatāvarī
Arma (Śukla-stha)	Pterygium	Wing-shaped thick growth from sclera onto cornea	Kapha + Rakta	- Chedana karma (surgical excision) - Tarpana, Seka, Aschyotana - Internal: Kaṇṭakāri, Pippalīmūla
Śuklaabhishyanda	Scleritis (non-infective)	Redness, deep eye pain, photophobia	Pitta + Rakta	- Raktamokṣaṇa (Jalauka) - Seka with cooling herbs: Nimba, Candana - Ghṛta pana: Mahātikta Ghṛta, Nimba Ghṛta
Śukla-rāga / Rakta-śukla	Episcleritis	Superficial red patches over sclera, mild discomfort	Rakta + Pitta	- Raktamokṣaṇa - Seka with Triphalā + Nimba - Aschyotana with Darvī + Nimba
Śuklaśotha	Scleral edema	Swelling over scleral area, congestion	Kapha + Rakta	- Nasya with Śigru taila - Seka, Pariseka with warm herbal decoction - Snehana + Svedana localized

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🟢 GENERAL AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR SCLERAL DISEASES

Procedure	Dravyas / Formulations Used	Purpose
Aschyotana (eye drops)	Triphalā kwātha, Daruharidrā kwātha	Reduces inflammation
Seka (streaming)	Nimba, Triphalā, Śigru decoctions	Anti-inflammatory, clears toxins
Tarpana (retention of medicated ghee)	Triphalā ghṛta, Mahātikta ghṛta	Rejuvenates and strengthens eye tissues
Anjana (collyrium)	Sauvirāñjana, Rasāñjana	Stimulates circulation, clears channels
Raktamokṣaṇa (bloodletting)	Jalaukā (leeches) in Rakta-Pitta conditions	Clears local blood impurities, reduces swelling
Nasya (nasal instillation)	Śigru taila, Anutaila	Regulates dosha in the head
Internal Medications	Mahātikta Ghṛta, Nimba capsules, Manjishṭhādi kwātha	Detoxifies and pacifies Pitta/Rakta

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🌿 SOME CLASSICAL FORMULATIONS

Formulation	Use
Mahātikta Ghṛta	Deep tissue cleansing and Pitta-Rakta pacifying
Nimbādi Guggulu	Useful in inflamed, suppurative eye diseases
Kaṇṭakāri Ghṛta	Effective in Arma and other scleral growths
Tiktaka Ghṛta	Anti-inflammatory, Raktaśodhaka
Śigru Taila (for Nasya)	Clears Kapha-Vāta from head, useful in Śotha

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📖 CLASSICAL REFERENCES

• Suśruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 6 (Netra Rogas)

• Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya, Uttara Sthāna, Chapter 13

• Śārṅgadhara Samhita – Ghṛta & Taila Yoga

• Bhāvaprakāśa – Netra roga prakarana

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🧪 Modern Correlation Summary

Ayurvedic Disease	Modern Disease
Śuklārma	Pinguecula, Pterygium
Arma	Pterygium (aggressive, with corneal encroachment)
Śuktikā	Scleromalacia
Śuklaabhishyanda	Scleritis
Śukla-rāga / Rakta-śukla	Episcleritis
Śuklaśotha	Scleral edema or localized swelling

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⚠️ Red Flag Signs (Refer to Ophthalmologist Immediately)

• Severe pain unrelieved by Ayurveda measures

• Sudden decrease in vision

• Blue discoloration of sclera (possible scleromalacia)

• Nodular, necrotizing scleritis