Macular degeneration typically affects older adults, reducing visual clarity. As of 2011, no cure for the disease exists, though if diagnosed in time, certain treatments can prevent greater vision loss. Treatment depends on the stage as well as the type of disease. Medication injections and laser therapies are often recommended. Electric stimulation shows promise in certain cases of macular degeneration. Acupuncture treatments may also help improve vision in certain cases, but more data is needed.
Types of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is grouped into two types -- wet or dry. The macula are part of your retinas, converting what you see into impulses sent to your brain. Wet AMD involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels behind the retina that leak blood and fluid. This leakage raises the macula from its normal place, causing rapid vision changes. Dry AMD occurs more slowly, in stages. The macula's light-sensitive cells slowly break down, blurring your central vision gradually. Experiencing dry AMD is more common, according to the National Eye Institute, but dry AMD can morph into wet AMD at any time.
Goals of Treatment
AMD treatment varies according to severity and type. The goal of wet AMD therapy is to reduce or destroy abnormal blood vessels behind the retina. Drugs injected into the arm or eye and lasers are used to target these vessels, potentially preventing vision loss. A combination of vitamins and minerals are typically used in cases of dry AMD, in the hopes of providing nutrients that prevent macular cell degeneration.
Acupuncture and AMD
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. Chinese medicine theory believes that stimulating these areas helps promote balance in the body, encouraging healing. Studies on acupuncture and AMD are few, but show promise. The journal of "Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion" published an observation study in January 2011 that compared the effects of acupuncture on AMD with those of traditional medications. Participants receiving acupuncture treatment saw 88 percent improvement, compared to just 60 percent for the medication group. Though not considered a cure, acupuncture may continue to show potential as an adjunct treatment in macular degeneration.
Potential Acupuncture Points
The above-mentioned study used a very specific point group for all participants. Typically, an acupuncturist customizes a treatment protocol for your particular health case. In the study, the same points were used to better gather reliable results. Twelve points -- gallbladder points 1, 14 and 37, bladder points 1, 2, 18 and 23, stomach points 2 and 40 and extra point taiyang -- were stimulated in each case. These points were observed to be effective; however, an acupuncturist may also choose other points, depending on each case of AMD.
Microcurrent Stimulation
Microcurrent or electrical stimulation is another therapy that holds potential for dry AMD and other vision disease sufferers. In 2009, data was presented at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society's annual conference that examined the effects of electrical current stimulation on vision disorders. Electrotherapy performed on dry macular degeneration patients elicited a 61 percent visual acuity improvement rate. Researchers found the positive effects of electrotherapy depended on the appropriate selection of device and treatment protocol. With continued studies, the researchers feel confident that by improving electrotherapeutic protocols, better results are achievable.
References
- National Eye Institute: Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- "Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion"; Observation on Therapeutic Effect of Age-related Macular Degeneration; N.J. Jiao; January 2011
- EEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society; Electrotherapeutic Device/protocol Design Considerations; G.D. O'Clock, et al.; 2009
