Acupuncture treatment for optic atrophy: A protocol for systematic review

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Neurology
• Integrative and Complementary Medicine

Background:

• Optic atrophy (OPA) is a debilitating neurological disorder with no established effective treatments.
• Previous research suggests acupuncture may offer therapeutic benefits for OPA, but evidence remains inconclusive.
• A systematic review is registered under PROSPERO CRD42019135785.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for optic atrophy (OPA).
• To synthesize current evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case-controlled trials (CCTs) regarding acupuncture for OPA.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane) with no language restrictions.
• Inclusion of RCTs and CCTs evaluating acupuncture for OPA.
• Primary outcome measures include vision and visual field improvement rates; secondary outcomes involve visual field sensitivity, PVEP measures, and adverse events. Risk of bias assessed using standard tools.

Main Results:

• This section will detail the study's objectives and methodology for evaluating acupuncture's efficacy and safety in OPA treatment.
• A synthesis of findings from included studies will be presented, focusing on vision and visual field improvements.
• Analysis will also cover secondary outcomes and any reported adverse reactions to acupuncture in OPA patients.

Conclusions:

• This study will provide a summary of the most current evidence regarding the use of acupuncture for treating patients with optic atrophy.
• Findings are expected to inform clinical practice and future research directions for OPA management.
• Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.