Ongoing trial will evaluate efficacy of acupuncture as complementary therapy for glaucoma
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Key takeaways:
- The researchers have already recruited 10 patients with glaucoma to participate in the trial.
- The study could inform future glaucoma treatment guidelines.
Researchers are recruiting participants for a study to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment for glaucoma, with preliminary results expected in 2025, according to a protocol published in JMIR Research Protocols.
Currently, 10 participants have registered to participate in the trial, which researchers began recruiting for in 2023.
Previous trials have shown acupuncture lowers IOP, potentially making it a valuable complementary treatment for glaucoma, Yi-Fang Liao, MD, MS, of the department of Chinese medicine and the Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science at China Medical University, and colleagues wrote.
The researchers plan to investigate this theory through a single-center, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial of 50 patients aged at least 20 years with primary open-angle glaucoma conducted at the clinic of China Medical University Hospital.
Patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 to the treatment group, which will receive ophthalmic acupuncture designed to create the “De Qi” sensation, or the control group, which will undergo minimal acupuncture that will stop as soon as patients report stimulation.
The researchers will assess participants at eight different time points, including once at baseline, six times during treatment and once at 3-month follow-up. They will investigate the primary endpoint — change in IOP before and after each acupuncture treatment — as well as secondary outcomes, including blood pressure, heart rate, and the impact of glaucoma on daily functionality using the Glaucoma Symptom Scale and the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 questionnaire, among other outcomes.
The researchers also will track all adverse events and perform subgroup analyses based on age, gender, changes in IOP and additional factors.
“This study strengthens our understanding of acupuncture as a potential adjunctive therapy for glaucoma,” the authors wrote.
“The methodological rigor, including a randomized controlled trial, enhances the credibility of findings,” they added. “The comprehensive evaluation, incorporating diverse outcome measures such as IOP, cardiovascular parameters and various ophthalmic assessments, provides valuable insights into acupuncture’s impact on glaucoma management.”
Perspective
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While the study evaluating the effect of this ancient form of care is in its infancy, it would not be surprising to discover a potential benefit to traditional Chinese medicine. Other research has already highlighted the effects of nutrition, exercise and meditation —including yoga — on IOP reduction. Acupuncture could potentially provide a complementary pathway to managing glaucoma.
There is some evidence that anxiety and depression may trigger or accelerate glaucoma progression. Acupuncture has been used to treat these mental health conditions as well as migraines, which are also associated with glaucoma risk.
It’s unlikely that complementary medicine will replace drops or surgery, but it could be a potential part of our armamentarium. One can compare it to branches of a military: Air Force, Navy and ground troops. It’s not a question of using them in isolation but how using them in concert can be a force multiplier — greater than the sum of their parts.
Such a mechanism has been suggested in the use of acupuncture, alongside other therapies, for those recovering from a stroke or breast cancer. We should keep an open mind to the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine and other low-risk forms of care.
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