Therapeutic Observation of Comprehensive Acupuncture for Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo systematically and objectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of comprehensive acupuncture treatment in managing wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and to seek a standard acupuncture protocol for this disease, for promoting the application in clinic.MethodTotally 37 patients (67 eyes) were observed to compare the vision, Amsler grid and rating scale of quality of life for visual impairment before and after the 3-month treatment. The clinical efficacy was then evaluated. ResultThe vision and score of quality of life were significantly changed after intervention (P<0.05); according to Amsler grid, the total improved rate was 79.2% and the total effective rate was 77.6%; age and disease duration were negatively correlated with the therapeutic efficacy (P<0.05).ConclusionComprehensive acupuncture treatment can significantly improve the vision and quality of life in patients with wet ARMD, and the younger the patients and the shorter the disease duration, the higher the therapeutic efficacy.