title: Acupuncture for patients with glaucoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research of the effects of one acupuncture method for patients with glaucoma, focusing on intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual acuity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the possibility of using acupuncture for patients with glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot study utilizing a one-group preintervention, postintervention design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with glaucoma were recruited through advertisement at the clinic for glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acupuncture was carried out twice a week over 5 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although these results should be interpreted cautiously, acupuncture can be used to supplement the conventional therapy for glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan..
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurusu
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Hidetada
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuse
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamai
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*