Vision Disorders

Below are some research articles on how Acupuncture works for eye disorders:

An Acupuncture Protocol for Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Second Report

–  Alston C. Lundgren, MD

“ABSTRACT”

Background
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of vision loss in older people. An earlier publication reported preliminary data. This follow-up report confirms earlier results and expands treatment parameters.

Objectives
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture to treat AMD and to explore treatment parameters.

Design, Setting, and Patients
Case series of 108 patients (56 women/52 men, median age 76.1 years [range 47-96 years]), seen at a single private practice in New Mexico (US) in 2003-2004. All patients were diagnosed by their ophthalmologist as having macular degeneration. Thirty-two percent (32%) of eyes had wet AMD, 50% dry, and 18% were not specified.

Intervention
An acupuncture approach combining periorbital electrical stimulation, ear acupuncture, and a French Energetic technique was applied to each patient.

Main Outcome Measures
Increase in visual acuity measured by Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts.

Results
Overall, 69% of patients improved in distant vision and 69% improved in near vision. Patients with both wet and dry forms of AMD benefited equally. Half of patients had subjective vision improvement, 33% of patients gained more than 2 lines on ETDRS charts, 20% reported lessening or disappearance of scotomas, 7% of patients noted improved color vision. The only complication was an occasional ecchymosis and recovery was uneventful.

Conclusion
Visual acuity in AMD may be improved by acupuncture. Further research is necessary to optimize the protocol and elucidate the mechanism of action.

Please see more at:

http://www.n5ev.com/uploads/3/0/9/7/30974833/lundgrenarticle2.pdf

A Pilot Study on How Acupuncture Works on Treating Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

– Ava K Bittner OD PhD, Jeffrey M Gould MEd LAc, Andy Rosenfarb ND LAc, Collin Rozanski, Gislin Dagnelie PhD

“Abstract”

Background
Patients with retinitis pigmentosa are motivated to try complementary or integrative therapies to slow disease progression. Basic science, clinical research and retinitis pigmentosa patients’ self-reports support the hypothesis that acupuncture may improve visual function.

Methods
A prospective, case series, pilot study enrolled 12 adult patients with RP treated at an academic medical center with a standardised protocol that combined electroacupuncture to the forehead and below the eyes and acupuncture to the body, at 10 half-hour sessions over two weeks. Pre and post-treatment tests included Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity (VA), Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (CS), Goldmann visual fields, and dark-adapted full-field stimulus threshold (FST)(n = 9). Scotopic Sensitivity Tester-1 (SST-1) dark-adaptometry was performed on the last two subjects.

Results
Six of 12 subjects had measurable, significant visual function improvements after treatment. Three of nine subjects tested with the FST had a significant 10.3 to 17.5 dB (that is, 13- to 53-fold) improvement in both eyes at one week after acupuncture, maintained for at least 10 to 12 months, which was well outside typical test-retest variability (95% CI: 3–3.5 dB) previously found in retinitis pigmentosa. SST-1 dark-adaptation was shortened in both subjects tested on average by 48.5 per cent at one week (range 36 to 62 percent across 10 to 30 dB), which was outside typical coefficients of variation of less than 30 percent previously determined in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and normals. Four of the five subjects with psychophysically measured scotopic sensitivity improvements reported subjective improvements in vision at night or in dark environments. One subject had 0.2 logMAR improvement in VA; another had 0.55 logCS improvement. Another subject developed more than 20 per cent improvement in the area of the Goldmann visual fields. The acupuncture protocol was completed and well tolerated by all, without adverse events or visual loss.

Conclusions
Acupuncture entails minimal risk, if administered by a well-trained acupuncturist and may have significant, measurable benefits on residual visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, in particular scotopic sensitivity, which had not previously been studied. These preliminary findings support the need for future controlled studies of potential mechanisms.”