Prospective Evaluation of Acupuncture as Treatment for Glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate acupuncture as treatment for glaucoma.


METHODS
Prospective double-masked randomized crossover study.


METHODS
setting: Clinical practice.


METHODS
One eye per patient with primary open-angle glaucoma and stable intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive 1 acupuncture series (12 sessions with either eye-related [eye-points] or non-eye-related [non-eye-points] acupoints) and then crossed over to receive the other series.


METHODS
IOP, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field (VF), optic disc and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements, compliance, and adverse reactions. Probability to detect 3 mm Hg IOP difference between series was 90%.


RESULTS
Twenty-two patients volunteered and 11 (50.0%) completed the study; 8 (36.4%) did not complete treatment owing to changes of health, moving away, lack of transportation, or family crisis; and 3(13.6%) were withdrawn owing to needle sensitivity or IOP elevation (8 mm Hg) in the contralateral eye. After an acupuncture session, mean IOP increased slightly with both eye-points (from 12.9 ± 1.8 mm Hg to 13.6 ± 2.0 mm Hg, P = .019) and non-eye-points (from 13.0 ± 1.5 mm Hg to 13.5 ± 1.7 mm Hg, P = .073) series. HR, diurnal IOP, and BCVA showed no statistically significant changes after 12 sessions of either series. Systolic and diastolic BP were reduced after 12 sessions of non-eye-points series (P = .040, P = .002, respectively). Optic disc, RNFL, and VF showed no statistically significant changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture has no overall effect on diurnal IOP or BCVA but may temporally increase the IOP immediately after a treatment session. BP is lowered by acupuncture with non-eye-points, but not with eye-points. Compliance and adverse event rates were low.
Glaucoma Division, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: law@jsei.ucla.edu.
Simon K
SK
Law
Glaucoma Division, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Starrie
S
Lowe
Glaucoma Division, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Samuel M
SM
Law
Glaucoma Division, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
JoAnn A
JA
Giaconi
Glaucoma Division, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Anne L
AL
Coleman
Glaucoma Division, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Joseph
J
Caprioli
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014794:Visual Fields