Abstract

Shifra ASF* and Ayshah Fazeenah AH

ABSTRACT

Maa e aksar (glaucoma) is caused by either increased production or reduced absorption of rutubat (fluid) makes an accumulation inside the eye ball produces tension (tanao) and constructs the eyeball hard. It results in zoa’f e basar (weakness of vision) and maidan e basarat (narrowing of visual field). This condition is equalize to Glaucoma in modern medicine and is defined as a group of conditions characterised by typical changes to the retinal nerve fibres and optic nerve head resulting in reduced visual field, progressive and irreversible vision loss. Its enormous social and economic impact can be acceptable by the fact that it remains as the second leading cause of blindness globally, after cataracts. In 2013, the number of people aged 40-80 years with glaucoma worldwide was estimated to be 64.3 million, increasing to 76.0 million in 2020 and 111.8 million in 2040. Generally the patients with glaucoma complaints like needing more light, blurred vision, seeing glare, difficulty seeing objects off to both sides, letters appearing faded when reading, difficulty seeing objects off to left side or right side, seeing too much light, area(s) darker or missing, seeing as if looking through dirty glasses and seeing as if looking through clouds. The treatment is in contrast to nature and Mizaj (temperament) of the disease. Therefore, this system promises that to remove the root cause is the main treatment modality. Despite the use of numerous newer therapeutic regimens, it has remained confront because of waning of the sensitive part of the eye. The holistic approach of Unani treatment will have a thriving management of diseases with temperamental affiliation and its evidences were found throughout the history that Irsal e Alaq has proven efficacy in Maa e aksar, but lacking scientific data for validation. The present literary review was compiled from Unani classical texts, electronic databases of Google scholar, PubMed and through web search. This review aims at highlighting the concept of glaucoma with special reference of Maa e aksar and its management through Irsal e Alaq.