Ophthalmology in ancient time – the Sushruta Samhita

Abstract

Sushruta, who lived during 600 BC, had vast knowledge of medicine and surgery mainly based on Ayurveda. His works have been recorded in Sushruta's compendium which is said to be one of the oldest treatizes available on medicine/surgery. Based on the compendium, we can assume that some form of medical knowledge must have existed in India much ahead of Sushruta's time. Diseases, their pathogenesis, signs and symptoms, treatment, and complications are described in such a depth that it leaves us wondering as to how Sushruta could have developed precise clinical skills simultaneously in all parts of medical science including medicine, surgery, plastic surgery, anesthesia, ophthalmology, midwifery, genetics, anatomy, and diabetes.

Keywords

• Ophthalmology
• Sushruta
• Sushruta Samhita