[Meta analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of optic atrophy]

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for optic atrophy.

All the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on optic atrophy treatment with acupuncture were included after retrieving the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database from their establishment to November 2012. The bibliographies of the included studies were retrieved as well. The quality of RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria was evaluated and the data were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed with Stata 11.2 software.

Thirteen RCTs involving 1180 eyes were included. Meta-analyses showed that the effect of acupuncture or combined with medicine was superior to medicine alone in terms of total effectiveness [OR=3.281, 95% CI ( 2.517, 4.278)], visual acuity [3.287, 95% CI (2.193, 4.925)], and visual field [3.215, 95% CI (1.580, 6.543)]. The visual sensitivity and P-VEP test showed the similar results.

Acupuncture is superior to medicine in terms of improved visual acuity, visual field and P-VEP. However, large samples, and high-quality studies are needed for stronger evidence.