A Systematic Review Protocol Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ayurvedic Interventions for Glaucoma

Abstract

Introduction: The features of glaucoma have similarities with those of Adhimantha as mentioned in Ayurveda, where it exhibits features based on the Doshas involved. The aim of this study is to conduct systematic review of published studies in view of safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions in the management of glaucoma and to run meta-analysis of the published clinical data if sufficient homogeneous studies are available. Materials and methods: This systematic review process would include review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental designs, multiple arms clinical trials and observational studies (case series and case control) on the management of glaucoma or Adhimantha through Ayurvedic interventions. Interventions and procedures administered from a minimum of 7 days to maximum of 6 months will be included. Electronic databases search through Ayurvedic research databases and medical journal databases such as MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane register, Scopus, EMBASE, directories of open access journals and hand searching will be done using predefined search terms to identify relevant studies which would include studies done between January 1990 and January 2020. The study selection, data extraction, analysis, and synthesis of results will be done by three researchers. Study selection will follow the symptomatology of Adhimantha/glaucoma as explained in different classical texts of Ayurveda, and the quality of studies will be assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias assessment for RCT and non-RCTs. The heterogeneity of reviewed studies will be evaluated by examining forest plots, and meta-analysis will be planned by using quantitative synthesis if they are sufficiently homogeneous. Ethics approval: Formal ethical approval is not necessary as the primary data of patients will not be collected. The final results of the review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication. PROSPERO registration number: PROSPERO 2019: CRD42019133911.