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Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) with Acupuncture: A Clinical Study


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Listen: Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) with Acupuncture- A Clinical S

The design should be visually appealing and easy to understand, emphasizing the potential benefits of acupuncture for AMD patients.
The design should be visually appealing and easy to understand, emphasizing the potential benefits of acupuncture for AMD patients.


Introduction


Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disease that primarily affects people over 60 years old and can lead to blindness. Its pathophysiology is complex, involving genetic factors, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neovascularization in its wet form. Current treatments focus on preventing vision loss, but there are no effective methods to improve or reverse the condition, especially in dry AMD.


Acupuncture, a safe and frequently used complementary therapy in Western countries, has shown potential in treating various conditions. This study explores the effects of acupuncture on the visual acuity of patients with AMD.


Macular Degeneration, dark areas
Macular Degeneration, dark areas

Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration


AMD causes progressive loss of central vision, which is crucial for daily activities such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Symptoms include:


  • Blurred vision: Difficulty seeing fine details, both near and far.

  • Dark or empty areas: The appearance of dark areas in the center of the visual field.

  • Distortion of straight lines: Straight lines may appear wavy or distorted.

  • Difficulty adapting to low light: Longer adaptation time when moving from well-lit to dim environments.


Methods


Participants

A total of 328 clinically diagnosed patients with dry AMD were recruited. All patients were white and lived in southern Austria. Before participating, patients signed informed consent, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Graz.


Procedure

The treatment consisted of acupuncture sessions over two weeks, Monday to Friday, twice a day, with a minimum of 60 minutes between sessions. Sterile steel needles (0.26 x 16 mm) were used. Visual acuity was assessed at baseline, after one week, and at the end of treatment using standard tests at distances of 3 meters and 40 centimeters.


Statistical Analysis

The SPSS program for Windows (version 14.0) was used for statistical analysis, employing the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with a significance criterion of p < 0.05.


Results

Of the 344 initially interested patients, 16 (4.7%) did not respond to the trial treatment and were excluded. The remaining 328 patients (227 women and 101 men) had an average age of 77.4 ± 8.6 years.


Visual acuity improved significantly from baseline to after one week and continued improving after two weeks of treatment, both at 3 meters and 40 centimeters. At 3 meters, vision improved in 145 patients (44.2%), remained stable in 169 (51.5%), and worsened in 14 (4.3%). At 40 centimeters, vision improved in 290 patients (88.4%), remained stable in 29 (8.8%), and worsened in 9 (2.7%).


Discussion


Currently, there are no effective conventional treatments for dry AMD. Acupuncture has shown to be a promising alternative, improving visual acuity in 44.2% of patients treated in this study. These results suggest that acupuncture may be a viable option for managing dry AMD, although randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm its efficacy.

The observed improvement may be related to increased blood flow to the retina or stimulation of neuronal function. However, the specific mechanisms of acupuncture are not yet fully understood and require further investigation.


Conclusion


This study, led by Dr. Henrike Krenn from Austria, provides a ray of hope for those suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that previously had no effective treatments. Acupuncture has proven to be a promising option, significantly improving visual acuity in a large proportion of treated patients. These preliminary results open new doors in the field of visual health, suggesting that the power of complementary therapies should not be underestimated.


It is an exciting time in the research of treatments for AMD. The possibility that a therapy like acupuncture can offer real improvements in patients' quality of life is a reason for optimism and action. With more studies and clinical trials, we can move towards more effective and accessible treatments for everyone.


We invite the scientific and medical community to take these findings as a starting point. Together, we can work to discover and perfect treatments that not only stop the progression of AMD but also restore vision and hope to those who need it most. The future of visual health is in our hands!






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