Ninety percent to 95% of school-age children have “normal” eyesight. The majority of the children with eyesight problems have refractory errors (needs glasses). In the adult and senior group, eye and vision problems are more common. Some of these conditions are cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease and macular degeneration. Read on to learn more about these conditions and how acupuncture is a complementary natural treatment for eye diseases.
Eye Diseases and Causes Acupuncture Can Help
Of course, Eye pain may mean you have a disease in the eye. However, it can also reflect a reaction to a systemic infection, metabolic abnormalities, or vascular/neurologic problem. Similarly, your eye pain may be a side effect to medications (e.g. diuretics). Certain autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis can also have eye symptoms. Allergic Conjunctivitis (itchy eyes from allergies) can cause eye discomfort. Also, postsurgical (e.g. cataract) eye dryness and pain are common. Indeed, Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when helping treat many diseases and painful eye conditions. Therefore, acupuncture is thought to be useful as a complementary and integrative therapy for eye conditions.
Acupuncture for Dry Eye Disease
For instance, dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular (eye) condition. You will have symptoms such as stinging, burning and blurred vision. Typically, autoimmune, drug-induced, and mechanical factors can lead to this. And research shows acupuncture enhances tear production, reduces ocular inflammation, and regulates nervous system function. Therefore, acupuncture offers a natural approach to DED management. Potentially, acupuncture may reduce reliance on medications, thereby decreasing the risk of side effects and drug interactions. Additionally, it has the potential to improve patients’ quality of life. Acupuncture helps with pain, enhances ocular health, and even promotes overall well-being.
How Does Acupuncture Help Eye Diseases?
Firstly, Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems. The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced pathways along the meridians to bring balance back. Mainly, the goal is to activate the body’s natural healing abilities.
Secondly, Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or “life force”(Qi, pronounced “chee”), flows through the body in these channels called meridians. And the stimulation of acupuncture points in the meridians is most effective through needle insertion.
Thirdly, today, Researchers believe when an acupuncture needle is inserted, nerves are stimulated. This sends a message to your brain and nervous system. Ultimately, Acupuncture improves blood flow and calms the nervous system. This triggers nerve signaling that affects the function of other parts of the body, including organs (e.g. eyes).
Fourthly, Acupuncture consists of the insertion of one or several very thin metal needles into the skin and underlying tissues. Because the sterile needles are so slender (hair thin) application is painless or at most, the equivalent of the most slightest prick. Most importantly, the needles are not placed in the immediate eye area at our office.
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Eye Diseases: Research
In one study, it stated, “Acupuncture shows potential benefits in treating degenerative eye diseases.” This was especially in improving clinical response rates. A total of 3362 records were investigated, with 21 studies meeting parameters for the study. They concluded, “Acupuncture shows improvements in visual acuity, ocular blood flow, and intraocular pressure (IOP)”. The degenerative ocular diseases included—glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), optic atrophy, and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). All of the diseases cause vision loss. And acupuncture was able to help in the healing of these eye diseases via vascular and neuroprotective processes.
In another study, acupuncture’s benefit for dry eyes following cataract surgery was evaluated. The scientists concluded that, based on the results, “acupuncture has the potential to become one option for complementary treatment in DED following cataract surgery.”
West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Eye Diseases
Dr. Natalie Meiri is a chiropractic physician, board certified in acupuncture with over 20 years of experience. Call 561-253-8984 today! Ask to make an appointment or find out more about: West Palm Beach Chiropractor: Acupuncture for Eye Diseases.
References:
- A Review of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Clinical Implications
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12379998/
2 . Is acupuncture a viable therapeutic strategy for degenerative eye diseases? a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229925001104
3. Week in review: Acupuncture for dry eye disease, 3D retinal tissue printing, metformin and AMD
By Stephanie Leveene, ELS Cataract/Anterior Segment, Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Cornea/External Disease, Pediatric Ophth/Strabismus, Retina/Vitreous
https://www.aao.org/education/headline/week-in-review-acupuncture-dry-eye-disease-3d-reti
4. Thomas Souza, (2018) Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor