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Abstract #21490 Published in IGR 10-3
Influence of acupuncture on intraocular pressure and compliance of patients with ocular hypertension or primary wide-angle glaucoma: First results of a controlled prospective follow-up study
Ewert H; Schwanitz RDeutsche Zeitschrift fur Akupunktur 2008; 51: 13-20
See also comment(s) by Norbert Pfeiffer •
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Primary wide-angle glaucoma (the most common form of glaucoma) is a multi-factorial disease of the optic nerve marked by the preceding loss of retinal ganglion cells, eventually leading to the atrophy of the optic nerve. Intraocular pressure (IOP) makes up the most important and most treatable risk factor. METHODS: The study examined the effect of acupuncture therapy on eye pressure and the compliance in patients suffering from primary wide-angle glaucoma (n = 21) and ocular hypertension (n = 13) against a group of test subjects not suffering from any eye complaint (n = 16). Before commencing therapy, corneal thickness was determined by 4Optics-Pachymeter. Before and after acupuncture treatment, an ophthalmologic determination of visual acuity according to DIN 58220 and a computer-aided visual field analysis were done. The IOP was measured before and immediately after acupuncture as well as 30 minutes after therapy. Changes in compliance were documented with a standardized questionnaire completed by each patient having received this treatment. RESULTS: It was shown that for patients with primary wide-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, acupuncture is able to significantly lower intraocular pressure. According to the questionnaire analysis, a subjective improvement of quality of life and better compliance of using anti-glaucomatous medication was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture is an appropriate method to treat patients with primary wide-angle glaucoma in addition to lowering eye pressure by anti-glaucomatous pharmacological therapy. In patients suffering from ocular hypertension, acupuncture can significantly lower intraocular pressure and therefore reduce the rate of conversion into a manifest glaucoma. Therefore this treatment can be suggested for ocular hypertension patients with contraindications against local anti-glaucomatous medicine (e.g., β-blocker). However, it is absolutely necessary in this treatment that patients are continuously monitored regarding visual field, retinal nerve fibre thickness and micro-morphological alterations of the disc in order to detect tissue damage of the optic nerve and functional loss caused by the onset of glaucoma. LA: German
Dr. H. Ewert, Facharzt fur Augenheilkunde Zusatzbezeichnung Akupunktur, Trienheider Weg 21, D-19288 Ludwigslust, Germany. Henrik.ewert@freenet.de