The Department has been able to provide quality and evidence-based treatment in improving vision in diseases like Refractive errors, managing Chronic inflammatory eye diseases like keratitis, uveitis, chorioretinitis and Optic neuritis, Corneal opacities, Dry eye, and preventing progression of diseases like Diabetic retinopathy, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Hereditary macular dystrophies, Age related macular diseases and Optic atrophy. Among ENT disorders, we are successfully treating Allergic diseases like allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, adenoid hypertrophy and Hearing loss. Integrated treatment approach is being implemented in treating Dental disorders along with Ayurvedic management with a well-equipped dental unit and a qualified Dentist.

Academic Facilities

Department has all the facilities to maintain the Academic standards as per CCIM norms. The department has a well-furnished Library cum Seminar hall with LCD projector and LED TV for clinical class and presentations, a separate room for distillation of eye drops, training facilities in Kriyakramas, Sastra- Anusastra Karmas with separate Kriyakalpa procedure room, Mini Operation theatre, patient examination and advanced investigative procedures. Department provides quality teaching and training for Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma and Paramedical students. Postgraduate course was established since 1976, Postgraduate Diploma in Ayurveda Ophthalmology since 2019 and is recently recognised as PhD centre for Salakyatantra under Kerala University of Health Sciences.

Academic Courses

70 students admitted for BAMS course are trained in the subject of Shalakyatantra every year during their final profession. Theory classes, clinical classes, Practical Kriyakalpa, IP and OP clinical training are provided. Batches of 5 students are trained for PG course in Shalakyatantra- M.S (Ay.) every year with course duration of 3 years. Expertise training is provided for them to develop skills in patient examination, treatment, surgical and parasurgical procedures, academic presentations and teaching. Dissertations on clinical works are also submitted by these students during their final year. Diploma course in Ophthalmology- D.O (Ay.) provides clinical training in Ayurvedic Ophthalmology to 3 students per year for a period of 2 years. In addition, Department provides theory and practical training for paramedical students and conducts CME and seminars for medical officers, practitioners and teachers of Ayurveda colleges.

Facilities for public

Dept. of Salakyatantra conducts medical camps in the various schools and rural areas of Trivandrum district along with awareness programs. Screening tests are conducted for detecting visual problems among school children in various schools across Thiruvananthapuram districts. Screening camps in association with various health programmes such as Diabetic day, Glaucoma week, National Ayurveda Day are also conducted by the Department.

Patient care services - Outpatient Services

The Outpatient unit is a research oriented clinical unit full-fledged with all modern diagnostic techniques and providing Ayurvedic treatment procedures. It is open for all on all days except Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm with an average 3000 patients per month. Treatment are provided for diseases of eye (Netra), ear (Karna), nose (Nasa), throat (Kanda), mouth (Mukha), teeth (Danta) and head & scalp (Shiras). Documentation of cases are also done separately so as to analyse the disease trends and to find the effect of treatment. Expert services are provided by 6 consultants divided into 4 units- SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4, 3 optometrists, dentist, dental hygienist, nurse and nursing assistant.

Ophthalmology unit comprises of vision test and refraction unit, squint evaluation unit, special investigation unit and Eye exercise unit. Investigations such as Vision test, subjective and objective refraction, Opthalmoscopic evaluation, Slit lamp evaluation, Applanation Tonometry, Optic Coherence Tomography, A Scan, B scan, Corneal Topography, Perimetry, fundus photography, Squint evaluation and therapy are provided for patients.

ENT unit comprises of investigative procedures such as Otoscopy, Audiometry, Tympanometry, OAE, BERA, ENT endoscopy. Dental unit comprises of a separate OP room with a modern Dental unit functioning daily except on Sundays from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm with a dentist and dental hygienist providing treatments like Scaling, filling; Dental extraction, Removable partial denture, crown, retainer and ortho tightening etc. Treatment procedures like Seka, Aschyothana, Anjana and Karnapoorana for outpatients are provided for patients in the Kriyakalpa room. Special OP facilities are available from 1pm to 3pm for Diabetic retinopathy on Monday, Allergic ENT disorders on Tuesday and Headache on Wednesday.

OP Consultation (8am – 1pm)