PUNE: A Pune-based study on an Ayurveda-inspired oral therapy that may reduce the need for repeated eye injections in patients with diabetic retinopathy was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2026, one of the world’s largest scientific conferences on vision research, held recently in Denver, US.The study evaluated Timirex-R, a nanotechnology-based oral formulation developed by Rasyani Biologics, as a potential adjunct treatment for diabetic retinopathy. The research was presented by Dr Yogesh Bendale, who represented India’s traditional medicine research at the conference attended by nearly 11,000 ophthalmologists and vision scientists from across the world.The research was carried out at Rasayu Ayurveda Clinic by a team comprising Dr Yogesh Bendale, Dr Avinash Kadam, Dr Ketaki Jagtap and Dr Prajakta Pote.Diabetic retinopathy is among the leading causes of preventable blindness in people with diabetes and is commonly managed through repeated intravitreal injections to control retinal damage and preserve vision. However, these injections often require multiple hospital visits and can impose physical, emotional and financial burdens on patients.According to the researchers, the study included patients who had shown limited improvement despite undergoing multiple eye injections. They said optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging demonstrated a reduction in retinal swelling and favourable structural changes following administration of the oral therapy.The research team reported that around 90 per cent of patients under observation did not require repeat eye injections during the study period. They also stated that no serious adverse events were observed. The formulation has received patent protection in the United States and several other countries.Commenting on the findings, Dr Yogesh Bendale said the study reflects the potential of integrating traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific methods. “The selection of this research at ARVO provides an opportunity to present Indian research on an international scientific platform and encourages further evaluation of such treatment approaches through evidence-based research,” he said.
