Abstract
Glaucoma is characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells that cause progressive optic neuropathy, finally resulting in changes to the optic nerve head. Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only method proven for treating glaucoma. Several studies have discovered that acupuncture can reduce IOP and also increase ocular perfusion and ocular blood flow. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of acupuncture on IOP in glaucoma patients. We conducted a single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial involving 45 glaucoma patients. The results indicated that the difference between the IOP 60 min after the intervention and IOP immediately before the intervention was greater in the acupuncture group (AG) and electroacupuncture group (EG) than in the sham group (SG) for all four of the interventions performed and in both eyes (all p < 0.05). The IOP difference between immediately before the first intervention and after finishing the final intervention was also greater in the AG and EG than in the SG in both eyes (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, IOP was reduced at 60 min after acupuncture or electroacupuncture was performed at BL1 and EX-HN7. Additionally, IOP was reduced after finishing four acupuncture or electroacupuncture sessions. Therefore, our results suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture are beneficial for lowering IOP in glaucoma patients. This trial is registered with NCT04157530.
Highlights
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness after cataract; it is an optic neuropathy with a specific structural finding in the optic disc and causing a specific functional deficit in automated visual field examinations [1]
Glaucoma is characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, causing progressive optic neuropathy and resulting in changes to the optic nerve head [2]. e main clinical manifestations of glaucoma are visual field defects and irreversible blindness, but a lack of clinical symptoms is possible in the early stage
SG, sham group; AG, acupuncture group; EG, electroacupuncture group; V1, first assessment; V2, second assessment; V3, third assessment; V4, fourth assessment; V2-V1, the intraocular pressure difference between V2 and V1; V3–V1, the intraocular pressure difference between V3 and V1; V4–V1, the intraocular pressure difference between V4 and V1. e intervention and group effect were measured by the repeated measures analysis of variance. ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 compared to SG; ###p < 0.001 compared to AG
Summary
Effect of Acupuncture on Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma Patients: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial. We conducted a single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial involving 45 glaucoma patients. E results indicated that the difference between the IOP 60 min after the intervention and IOP immediately before the intervention was greater in the acupuncture group (AG) and electroacupuncture group (EG) than in the sham group (SG) for all four of the interventions performed and in both eyes (all p < 0.05). E IOP difference between immediately before the first intervention and after finishing the final intervention was greater in the AG and EG than in the SG in both eyes (all p < 0.05). Erefore, our results suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture are beneficial for lowering IOP in glaucoma patients. IOP was reduced after finishing four acupuncture or electroacupuncture sessions. erefore, our results suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture are beneficial for lowering IOP in glaucoma patients. is trial is registered with NCT04157530
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