‘Sudarshanam’ is not merely a private venture; it arose as part of a nucleus of Ayurveda enthusiasts, scientists, and charitable workers who, in the mid-1980s, conceived it as a shared vision. It is the dream of restoring balance to each of the eight branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda to their ancient glory. The eight divisions comprise Kaya (bodily health), Bala (cardiovascular and growth-related), Graha (psychiatry and mental health), Urdhvaanga (head and neck), Shalakya Tantra (ophthalmology, ENT, and dental), Shalya (trauma and surgery), Damshtra (teeth bite,toxicolgy), and Jara Chikitsa (geriatric care). Within Urdhvaanga, the subspecialty of Netra Chikitsa — Shalakya Tantra — denotes interventions performed by Shalya Shastras (surgical arts).
In 1990, at the request of the world-renowned Ophthalmic surgeon and Padma Bhushan awardee, late Dr. S. S. Badarinath, who had established the Chennai Sankara Nethralaya, he visited Thiruvalla for two days to understand the strengths and limitations of Ayurvedic Ophthalmology. Based on these insights, he conceived an extensive 26-page project and recommended it for providing scope of Ayurveda in Eyecare.
Consequently, Ayurvedic graduate Dr B. G. Gokulan, was invited to the Medical Research Foundation (MRF) to work with MS Fellows for a year, during which he got trained, taught examination techniques, and studied research models.
With self-criticism and a view to addressing the many limitations of modern ophthalmic care, Dr. Badarinath indicated that many substantial solutions could be contributed by Ayurveda.
After completing training in modern ophthalmic examination techniques successfully, Sudarshanam Eye Clinic began formal operations in 1993.
Now, after over 30 years of service to the public, Sudarshanam has achieved meaningful progress in offering hope for many conditions previously deemed inoperable or untreatable – related to nerve (neural) vision, other eye diseases, and more.
The increasing visual impairments in children, nerve-related visual disturbances in the elderly, numerous allergic ophthalmic diseases, immune disorders, and progressive keratoconus in youths are areas where Ayurveda has demonstrated effectiveness over the past three decades.
Having examined data from hundreds of diseases, treatments and prepared to publish research findings, discussions are progressing with Gujarat’s premier Ayurvedic educational institution, Parul University, for collaboration.
Though it is a private venture, Sudarshanam has, in an exceptional manner, been delivering treatment free of cost to local, disadvantaged patients, and treatment at free or subsidized rates for other poor patients. Moreover, as per the decision of the Ayurvedic hospital management association, for the last 4 years treatments have been provided at no profit, to members of the Indian Defence, Army, Police, and their close relatives.
Dr. B. G. Gokulan
Sudarshanam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital & Panchakarma Center
Thymala, Manjadi PO, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta Dist ; KERALA INDIA – 689 105
Phone (clinic): 9447163071
Clinic: 8075150603
