Clinical Evaluation of Acupuncture in Treating Glaucoma

China Medical University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Glaucoma; Acupuncture

Treatments: Device: wang-bu-liu-xing; Device: Electroacupuncture; Device: acupuncture

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04157530

CMUH106-REC2-161

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study predicts that acupuncture or electroacupuncture can reduce intraocular pressure and also can improve quality of life in patients with glaucoma.

Full description

Glaucoma is a syndrome, and that is results from intraocular pressure increases cause visual field narrow and blindness. The incidence of adult blindness induced by glaucoma is second in the ophthalmologic disease in the world. Many studies report that both blood circulation in the eye surroundings and intraocular pressure increase play an important role in glaucoma. Several studies show that acupuncture can modulate intraocular pressure and improve activity of central visual acuity and also increase blood flow of eye fundus. Jingming (BL1) can communicate yi and yang, and nourish and clear eyes, Qiuhou (EX-HN7) can transport qi and activate blood, and freely flowing meridian and clear eyes. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Jinming and Qiuhou on intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. The study designed as a single-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial, a total of45 patients with glaucoma divided into three groups, each group was15 subjects as follows: 1) sham group, using the seeds of wang-bu-liu-xing applied on the surface of Jinming and Qiuhou acupoints, one times/day, and each time was 20 min, twice/week for 2 weeks; 2) acupuncture group, the methods were identical to the sham group, but used acupuncture applied to Qingming and Qiuhou with Der-qi; 3) Electroacupuncture group, the methods were identical to acupuncture, but the needles of Qinming and Qiuhou connected to the electroacupuncture machine after Der-qi, the frequencies of stimulus were 6 Hz, the intensity of stimulus was minimal visible muscle twitch. Primary outcome measure was the changes of intraocular pressure, and the second outcome measure was the score changes of WHOQOL-REF (Taiwan version).

The present study predicts that acupuncture or electroacupuncture can reduce intraocular pressure and also can improve quality of life in patients with glaucoma.

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Glaucoma for at least three months
2. Do not use ocular hypotensive drugs or use only one ocular hypotensive drug.
3. It is over 20 years old.
4. Men and women are informal.
5. There is no evidence other than glaucoma that shows other eye diseases.
6. Be aware and fill out the consent form yourself.

Exclusion criteria

1. Combines other chronic diseases, taking multiple medications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.
2. Those who have had glaucoma surgery.
3. Those who had undergone myopia laser surgery.
4. Can not accept acupuncture points stimulators.
5. Allergic to acupuncture needles.
6. Has a mental illness or is unable to cooperate with the researcher.
7. Do not sign consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

sham group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

15 subjects with seeds of wang-bu-liu-xing applied on the surface of Jinming and Qiuhou acupoints

Treatment:

Device: wang-bu-liu-xing

acupuncture group

Experimental group

Description:

15 subjects with acupuncture applied to Qingming and Qiuhou with Der-qi

Treatment:

Device: acupuncture

Electroacupuncture group

Experimental group

Description:

15 subjects wth acupuncture, but the needles of Qinming and Qiuhou connected to the electroacupuncture machine after Der-qi

Treatment:

Device: Electroacupuncture