Acupuncture for patients with glaucoma

Research of the effects of one acupuncture method for patients with glaucoma, focusing on intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual acuity.

To explore the possibility of using acupuncture for patients with glaucoma.

Pilot study utilizing a one-group preintervention, postintervention design.

Eleven patients with glaucoma were recruited through advertisement at the clinic for glaucoma.

Acupuncture was carried out twice a week over 5 weeks.

IOP, visual acuity, and subjective symptoms were observed at 15 minutes before and after acupuncture once a week and in a four-week follow-up.

IOP was significantly improved at 15 minutes after acupuncture, at one week, two weeks, and five weeks and tended to be lower weekly. Uncorrected visual acuity was significantly improved at three weeks, four weeks, and five weeks, and best corrected visual acuity was significantly improved at five weeks. However at the four-week follow-up, significance remained only in uncorrected visual acuity.

Although these results should be interpreted cautiously, acupuncture can be used to supplement the conventional therapy for glaucoma.