Leszczynska A, Ramm L, Spoerl E, Pillunat LE, Terai N. The short-term effect of acupuncture on different ocular blood flow parameters in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma: a randomized, clinical study.
Clin Ophthalmol 2018;
12:1285-1291. [PMID:
30050281 PMCID:
PMC6055908 DOI:
10.2147/opth.s170396]
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Abstract
Introduction
To investigate the effect of acupuncture on different ocular blood flow (OBF) parameters in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Patients and methods
In a prospective, randomized study, 56 POAG patients were randomly assigned either to an eye-specific acupuncture (group I, n=28) or to an eye-unspecific acupuncture treatment (group II, n=28). Blood flow parameters were measured before and 10 minutes after treatment. Parapapillary retinal blood flow was determined by the Heidelberg retina flowmeter. Retinal vessel diameters were measured by the dynamic vessel analyzer. Pulsatile ocular blood flow, ocular pulse amplitude, and IOP were investigated by the Langham OBF system. Systemic blood pressure was obtained additionally.
Results
Pulsatile ocular blood flow increased significantly after the eye-specific acupuncture treatment from 5.6±4.3 to 6.7±4.9 µL/min (P=0.014). There was no significant change in parapapillary retinal blood flow, retinal vessel diameter, systemic blood pressure, or IOP after treatment in neither of the two groups.
Conclusion
An eye-specific acupuncture treatment may affect OBF in POAG patients.
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