Shalakya is so called, as there is general use of shalakya (rod, stick or probe) therein. It deals with the etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, complications and treatment of the disease of eyes, ears, nose, throat and head.

Sushruta Samhita being the main treatise on surgery deals with Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology giving the aetiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, complications and treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat diseases. 

While enumerating only 76 types of diseases of the eye, Sushruta himself has said that the Shalakya tantra is as wide and deep as an ocean.

Shalakya is the only branch of Ayurveda where a new tradition to describe diseases affecting individual structures has been described by Sushruta.

When we compare the eye diseases of advanced branch of modern ophthalmology with those of Sushruta's descriptions, they appear to be completely new even today in some respects. He has described nearly all diseases of the eye, which we come across today. 

Sushruta has described diseases of the lids, the conjunctiva, the lacrymal apparatus, anterior chamber, the iris and the lens, etc.

In our module of shalakya (file-introduction) for endusers, we have provided information about the classification (file -classification)of ENT diseases, the daily regime (file-regime)to be followed to prevent ENT diseases and various treatments (file-various treatment) provided in Ayurveda.