The paper introduces Professor JI Laixi's academic thought and clinical experience in treatment of primary open angle glaucoma with "nape-eight-needle" acupotomy. Professor JI Laixi believes that the key pathogenesis lies in "occlusion of xuanfu (subtle orifices) within the eyes and obstruction of meridian pathways". Using the unblocking principle of treatment, taking meridian theory of traditional acupuncture as the core and based on the anatomical principles of structural acupuncture, Professor JI has proposed his academic thought, "treating eye diseases from the nape". In treatment, "nape-eight-needle" acupotomy is adopted, combined with filiform needle acupuncture. It is the advantageous compound therapeutic method, aiming to open xuanfu, restore brain-eye meridian connectivity, harmonize body, qi and mind through systemic regulation, address both the causative factors and symptoms and prevent from blindness. This therapeutic approach provides a new idea for clinical treatment of primary open angle glaucoma.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/therapy* ; Male ; Meridians ; Female ; Acupuncture Points ; Middle Aged ; Aged

Neuronal injury in glaucoma persists despite effective intraocular pressure (IOP) control, necessitating neuroprotective strategies for retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective role of the γ-hydroxybutyrate analog HOCPCA in a glaucoma model, focusing on its effects on CaMKII signaling, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammatory responses. Retinal tissue from high IOP animal models was analyzed via proteomics. In vitro mouse retinal explants were subjected to elevated pressure and oxidative stress, followed by HOCPCA treatment. HOCPCA significantly mitigated the RGC loss induced by oxidative stress and elevated pressure, preserving neuronal function. It restored CaMKIIα and β levels, preserving RGC integrity, while also modulating oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory responses. These findings suggest that HOCPCA, through its interaction with CaMKII, holds promise as a neuroprotective therapy for glaucoma.
Animals ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/metabolism* ; Glaucoma/pathology* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Disease Models, Animal ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/drug therapy* ; Neuroprotection/drug effects* ; Male ; Intraocular Pressure/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for glaucoma-induced optic atrophy. METHODS: A total of 70 patients (89 affected eyes) with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was given basic western medicine treatment. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at main acupoints i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Shangjingming (Extra), Chengqi (ST 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36), combined with supplementary acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, once every three days, twice a week. The treatment for 3 months was required in both groups. Before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up of 6 months after treatment, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), indexes of visual field (visual field index [VFI], mean deviation [MD], pattern standard deviation [PSD]) and mean thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, BCVA was decreased after treatment and in follow-up in the control group (P<0.05); in the follow-up, BCVA in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). On each time point before and after treatment, there was no significant difference within or between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment and in the follow-up, the mean thickness of RNFL was larger than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of the basic western medicine treatment, acupuncture can delay the decline of vision and the thinning of retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy.
Humans ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Glaucoma/therapy* ; Optic Atrophy/therapy* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Acupuncture Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture combined with phacoemulsification for cataract with glaucoma. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with cataract and angle-closure glaucoma were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with phacoemulsification. Based on the treatment in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with and acupuncture at acupoints around eyes; the treatment was given once every other day, and 15-day treatment constituted a course, and 2 courses (60 days) were given. The intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, pain severity, aqueous outflow (F value) and clinical symptoms were observed in the two groups before treatment and after 1 d, 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment. RESULTS: The IOP after 1 d, 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all <0.05), while the visual acuity after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (all <0.05). Compared before treatment, the IOP was significantly decreased after 1 d, 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the two groups, and the visual acuity was significantly increased after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the two groups (all <0.05). The pain scores and F value after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all <0.05). Compared before treatment, the pain scores and F value after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment were significantly reduced in the two groups (all <0.05). After 60 d of treatment, the number of patients who presented general clinical symptoms in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Based on phacoemulsification, acupuncture and could significantly reduce the IOP and F value, relieve pain and improve visual acuity in patients with cataract and glaucoma.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Cataract ; complications ; therapy ; Glaucoma ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification ; Treatment Outcome

BackgroundTrabeculectomy is the most efficient surgical treatment. Prevention failure of bleb cicatrix would lead to unsatisfactory postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) controlling and unsatisfactory success rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 5-year outcomes of trabeculectomy with a cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel implantation for Chinese glaucoma patients.

MethodsThis is a prospective, case-controlled study. Patients who were to be applied first-time trabeculectomy in the Department of Ophthalmology of Peking University Third Hospital between 2010 and 2012 were included in the study. Totally, 60 eyes were randomly assigned to the trabeculectomy group (TA group) or the trabeculectomy with cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel implantation group (TH group). Follow-up was finished at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after the operation. The statistical index of demographic data, IOP, bleb shape, and any complications or medications or surgical procedures were recorded and assessed by SPSS 19.0 software through independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's Chi-square test, respectively.

ResultsThe baseline IOP was comparable between the two groups (t= -1.00, P= 0.32) while the postoperative IOP was significantly lower in the TH group at 1, 3 and 5 years' time points (P = 0.00, P= 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). According to the Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale, the height and extent of bleb were better in the TH group at all follow-up time points (P < 0.05), however, the comparison of bleb vascularity showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05). TA group had a higher percentage of complications (13% vs. 3%) compared to TH group; however, there was no statistical difference in the comparison of each statistical item (P > 0.05, respectively). The complete success at 5 years was higher in the TH group than that in the TA group (78% vs. 54%, P = 0.03).

ConclusionOur results suggested that implantation of cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel with trabeculectomy was more efficient and would improve the prognosis of glaucoma patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Trabeculectomy ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes and complications of proton beam therapy (PBT) in a single institution in Korea and quantitatively analyzed the change in tumor volume after PBT using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four treatment-naïve patients who underwent PBT for choroidal melanoma between 2009 and 2015 were reviewed. Dose fractionation was 60-70 cobalt gray equivalents over 5 fractions. Orbital MRIs were taken at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after PBT and annually thereafter. The tumor volume was reconstructed and evaluated by stacking the tumor boundary in each thin-sliced axial T1-weighted image using MIM software. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 36.5 months (range, 9 to 82 months). One patient had suspicious local progression and two patients had distant metastasis. The 3-year local progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival rates were 95.8%, 95.8%, and 100%,respectively. Five Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event ver. 4.03 grade 3-4 toxicities were observed in four patients (16.7%), including one with neovascular glaucoma. The mean tumor volume at the baseline MRI was 0.565±0.084 mL (range, 0.074 to 1.610 mL), and the ratios of the mean volume at 3, 6, and 12 months to that at baseline were 81.8%, 67.3%, and 60.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The local controlrate and complication profile after PBT in patientswith choroidal melanoma in Korea were comparable with those reported in a previous PBT series. The change in tumor volume after PBT exhibited a gradual regression pattern on MRI.
Choroid* ; Cobalt ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose Fractionation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Neovascular ; Humans ; Korea* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Orbit ; Proton Therapy* ; Protons* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: To report a case of atypical Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease that occurred after an acute angle closure glaucoma attack. CASE SUMMARY: A 48-year-old female presented with bilateral visual disturbance accompanied by headache and ocular pain. The patient had no specific past medical or family history except taking oral contraceptives for 10 years. Despite the normalization of intraocular pressure in a local clinic, a shallow-depth anterior chamber and forward displacement of the iris–lens diaphragm remained unresolved. The depth of the anterior chamber had increased in both eyes after laser therapy but without recovery of her visual acuity. B-scans showed ciliochoroidal effusion. Anterior chamber inflammation was observed in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography showed lobulated and serous retinal detachment involving the macula of both eyes. However, fluorescence angiography findings showed no multiple hyperfluorescence, which is unusual for typical cases of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease. The patient was diagnosed with atypical Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease and was treated with eyedrops and intravenous steroid pulse therapy, after which she was converted to oral medications with immunosuppressants. After 1 month, no serous retinal detachment was detected. After 3 months, best corrected visual acuity (logMAR) was 0.0 in both eyes, and there has been no recurrence on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease at presentation can mimic acute attacks of angle closure glaucoma. Therefore, if there is no improvement after treatment for angle closure glaucoma including laser iridotomy, other diseases including Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease must be considered and the patient should be closely monitored.
Anterior Chamber ; Contraceptives, Oral ; Diaphragm ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Laser Therapy ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Recurrence ; Retinal Detachment ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome ; Visual Acuity

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness, affecting 70~80 million people around the world. The death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is the main cause of blindness related to this disease. Current therapies do not provide enough protection and regeneration of RGCs. A novel opportunity for treatment of glaucoma is application of technologies related to stem cell and gene therapy. In this perspective we will thus focus on emerging approaches to glaucoma treatment including stem cells and gene therapy.
Blindness ; Genetic Therapy* ; Glaucoma* ; Regeneration ; Retina ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Stem Cells*

PURPOSE: To report the clinical characteristics of retinoblastoma patients whose diagnosis was difficult due to atypical ocular manifestations. METHODS: Among retinoblastoma patients who were diagnosed and treated from January 1999 to December 2014 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, 6 patients whose diagnosis was difficult were retrospectively reviewed. Factors including age, sex, family history, initial findings, time to final diagnosis, histopathologic examination, additional treatment, and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 6 patients, 5 were male, and the mean age at the initial visit was 32.9 ± 19.1 months. None of the patients had family history, and all presented with unilateral lesion at the initial visit. The initial diagnoses were Coats' disease and uveitis in 2 patients, respectively, and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous and traumatic hyphema in 1 patient, respectively. During an intensive short-term follow-up of 8.3 ± 5.3 weeks, 2 patients showed malignant cells after external subretinal fluid drainage procedure, and 4 patients demonstrated increasing ocular size or calcification in imaging. These patients received enucleation under suspicion of malignancy and were finally diagnosed with retinoblastoma after histopathologic examination. There were 2 patients with optic nerve involvement, and 3 patients underwent additional systemic chemotherapy. Five patients were followed-up for 7.6 ± 6.3 years after enucleation, and the mean age at final follow-up was 10.6 ± 7.4 years. CONCLUSIONS: Retinoblastoma is one of the diseases in which early diagnosis and treatment are important. However, some cases are difficult to diagnose, even for experienced clinicians. If there are no typical manifestations such as mass or calcification and early findings show retinal detachment, glaucoma, pseudohypopyon, or hyphema, intensive short-term follow-up to exclude retinoblastoma is needed.
Diagnosis* ; Drainage ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Hyphema ; Male ; Optic Nerve ; Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinoblastoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Subretinal Fluid ; Survival Rate ; Uveitis

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients treated with either latanoprost or dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination (DTFC) for primary open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: This retrospective study included 92 consecutive patients who underwent a 180-degree SLT for the first time. The subjects divided into two groups:patients who received latanoprost (n = 63) or DTFC (n = 29) before and after SLT. The main outcome measure was intraocular pressure (IOP) decrease over five years after SLT. The mean IOP change, mean percentage of IOP reduction, and success rates were compared between the patients treated with latanoprost and the patients treated with DTFC. Success was defined as an IOP decrease ≥ 3 mm Hg or IOP reduction ≥ 20% without additional medications, laser surgery, or glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: At the postoperative one-year follow-up, the mean IOP was 15.7 ± 2.2 mm Hg in the latanoprost group and, 16.2 ± 2.4 mm Hg in the DTFC group. At the postoperative five-year follow-up, the mean IOP was 15.1 ± 2.5 mm Hg in the latanoprost group and, 14.6 ± 1.7 mm Hg in the DTFC group. There were no statistically significant differences in IOP change, percentage IOP reduction, or success rate between the groups at each time point after the SLT (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Selective laser trabeculoplasty showed a reasonable efficacy in lowering the IOP over a five-year follow-up period. There were no significant differences in IOP lowering effect or success rate between the patients treated with latanoprost or DTFC.
Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Laser Therapy ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Retrospective Studies ; Trabeculectomy*