Objective. To determine whether
acupuncture treatment impacts the clinical efficacy of degenerative damage of the optic nerve caused by
nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (
NAION). Methods. 69 patients (93 eyes) with
NAION who had been treated by acupuncture which is performed on different
acupoints related to eyes by vertical insertion or Fingernail-pressure needle insertion. The best corrected visual acuity, mean defect (MD) and mean
light sensitivity (MS) of the visual field, and latency and amplitude of pattern visual evoked potential (P-VEP) were compared before and
after treatment. Results. After 2, 4, and 8 weeks of treatment, the total effective rates of visual acuity improvement were 74.19%, 78.89%, and 81.71%, respectively, and the decreased MD and increased MS were both statistically significant (P < 0.01). When compared with the situation before treatment, the average latency of the P100 wave was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the average amplitude was improved with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusions.
Acupuncture treatment could obviously improve the visual function of patients with
NAION and be used as complementary and alternative
therapy in clinic.