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Acupuncture treatment for Cataracts

When treating the cataracts, acupuncturist will try to define the underlying pattern that cause the
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A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. It is usually common in the elderly population. Cataracts are the cause of half of blindness and 33% of visual impairment worldwide.1

 

CONTENTS


SYMPTOMS

CAUSES

TREATMENTS

 

SYMPTOMS


Symptoms may include faded colors, blurry vision, halos around light, trouble with bright lights, and trouble seeing at night. This may result in trouble driving, reading, or recognizing faces. Poor vision caused by cataracts may also result in an increased risk of falling and depression.2

 

CAUSES


Cataracts are most commonly due to aging but may also occur due to trauma or radiation exposure, be present from birth, or occur following eye surgery for other problems. Risk factors include diabetes, smoking tobacco, prolonged exposure to sunlight, and alcohol. Either clumps of protein or yellow-brown pigment may be deposited in the lens reducing the transmission of light to the retina at the back of the eye.3

 

TREATMENTS


Related Acupuncture Points:

Yuyao/ G-1, B-2, B-1.

When treating cataract, an acupuncturist needs to define the underlying pattern that is causing it. The pattern is defined based on the symptom that is experienced by the patient. There are 3 patterns believed to lead to cataracts. The first pattern is built by the weakness of the liver and kidneys. If the liver is healthy, then the eyes have clear vision and vice versa. The second pattern is developed due to a weakness in the spleen. When the spleen function is disturbed, the eyes are impaired to produce clear vision because of lack of nourishment. The third pattern suggests that cataract is caused by the excess heat in the liver. The excess heat is caused by lack of yin, lack of blood or some emotional problem. Excess heat in the liver causes discomfort of the eyes. The acupoints to be stimulated are GV-20, LI-4, LI-11, ST-1, GB-14, BL-2, LV-3, Ex-2, Ex-4, TE-20, SI-19, LI-14, BL-1, BL-2, EX-HN4, GB-20, BL-18, BL-23, ST-36.4

Footnotes

  1. Facts About Cataract – nei.nih.gov – 2017, https://nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts
  2. Cataracts – allaboutvision.com – 2017, http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm
  3. Facts About Cataract – nei.nih.gov – 2017, https://nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts
  4. Cataracts – okanaganacupuncture.com – 2017, http://okanaganacupuncture.com/cataracts-vision-problems/