With the potential to affect the vision itself by damaging the optic nerve, glaucoma emerges as a serious progressive vision condition. Based on the severity, doctors can recommend medications or surgical options. Laser therapy may be considered in order to avoid more eye damage if a person has increased pressure within it. Now, acupuncture is being considered as an effective treatment for managing glaucoma.
Learn more about the role of acupuncture in glaucoma management by reading on.
Most Common Types
Here are the most common types of glaucoma you may encounter, though there are others as well:
- Open Angle Glaucoma: Since this type of glaucoma doesn’t show initial symptoms clearly, it is hard to diagnose early. Frequent eye exams are highly recommended.
- Angle-Closure Glaucoma: When you have angle-closure glaucoma, there is a sudden pressure increase in the eye. This means the fluid drainage angle is blocked. It requires medical attention right away.
Both of these types affect the optic nerve, causing serious damage to the eyes during more advanced stages. The other less common types include secondary glaucoma, which occurs due to a different eye issue or congenital issue (most often in babies).
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Typical symptoms associated with glaucoma include the following:
- Gradual Loss of Peripheral Vision
- Tunnel Vision
- Blurred Vision
- Halos Around Lights
- Eye Pain
- Redness in the Eye
- Headaches
If you are suffering from multiple of these symptoms, getting your eyes tested is a good idea.
Understanding Acupuncture Points for Glaucoma
The specific points for helping with glaucoma may differ depending on your body type and symptoms. The treatment focuses on selected key acupoints for acupuncture points. Zanzhu (BL2) is the point on the eyebrow directly above the inner corner of the eye. It is one of those places that helps regulate the flow of Qi in the ocular area and promote circulation. All of this reduces intraocular pressure. Fengchi (GB20) lies on the base of your skull, where neck muscles are attached to the skull. It improves blood supply to the eyes and eases tension, promoting general ocular well-being.
Other points used by acupuncturists are ST2 (Sibai), located below the eyes, and LI4 (Hegu), situated between the thumb and index finger. These are intended to balance the body’s meridians, reducing glaucoma symptoms while improving patients’ overall well-being. However, it is worth mentioning that acupuncture treatment should be individualized since different patients may have varying needs according to their severity or response to treatment.
Safety and Considerations
When done by a qualified practitioner, acupuncture is mostly safe. But before making any additions like acupuncture to your treatment plan, make sure you first consult an ophthalmologist. Nonetheless, rather than being used as its substitute, practitioners use acupuncture together with conventional treatments offered by medical specialists since it is not a replacement.
At Natural Life Acupuncture and Wellness, we understand the difficulties of managing glaucoma. Based on the severity, we customize our comprehensive treatments to ensure better eye health. Contact us now if you are looking for alternative therapies for glaucoma.