Acupuncture as Adjuvant Therapy for Glaucoma: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy requiring lifelong management.
• Conventional treatments aim to slow optic nerve decline.
• Acupuncture is explored as a complementary therapy to enhance glaucoma treatment effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for glaucoma in a single-center randomized control trial.
• To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing glaucoma.
• To explore the potential of acupuncture in reducing intraocular pressure.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 50 primary open-angle glaucoma patients.
• Participants assigned to either ophthalmic acupuncture with "De Qi" or minimum stimulation control.
• Weekly treatments for 6 sessions, with assessments at baseline, during treatment, and at 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Participant recruitment began June 28, 2023.
• Ten participants enrolled for feasibility testing.
• Preliminary data anticipated by December 2025.

Conclusions:

• The trial employs rigorous methods to evaluate acupuncture's clinical efficacy for glaucoma.
• Comprehensive outcome measures will provide insights into acupuncture's role as an adjunctive therapy.
• Findings may inform future clinical treatment guidelines for glaucoma management.