The short-term effect of acupuncture on different ocular blood flow parameters in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma: a randomized, clinical study

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.