OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupuncture on the treatment of glaucoma so as to find out a kind of simple and effect approach to control and stabilize intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients with glaucoma.

METHODSThirty-nine cases (75 eyes) of glaucoma (unstable control of IOP) were treated with acupuncture at Sibai (ST 2), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Jingming (BL 1), Qiuhou (EX-HN 7), etc. IOP before and after acupuncture, at 10 a.m, 2 p.m, 6 p.m, 10 p.m., at 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the second day as well as diurnal IOP variation in 24 h were observed separately.

RESULTSAfter acupuncture, IOP at each time point reduced as compared with that before acupuncture. IOP at 5 a.m., 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. after acupuncture was different significantly in statistics as compared with that before acupuncture correspondingly (all P<0.05). After acupuncture, 24 h diurnal IOP variation was (5.31 +/- 2.84) mmHg, which was lower significantly than (7.06 +/- 3.86) mmHg before acupuncture (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor the patients with unstable control of IOP, acupuncture can not only reduce IOP, but also stabilize 24 h diurnal IOP variation and benefit the visual function of patients with glaucoma.