PEMF therapy and Glaucoma

PEMF therapy and Glaucoma

Last week was world glaucoma week (WGW2016) so we thought we would do a blog post about PEMF therapy and glaucoma.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition that can affect sight due to the build-up of pressure within the eye. One eye may develop glaucoma quicker than the other.

Glaucoma develops when the fluid of the eye cannot drain properly and the pressure in the eye builds up. This is known as the intraocular pressure. This can damage the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain and the nerve fibres from the light-sensitive nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye.

What are the types of glaucoma?

There are four main types of glaucoma; chronic open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common types and this develops very slowly. Primary angle-closure glaucoma is rare and can occur slowly or rapidly with a sudden build-up of pressure in the eye. Secondary glaucoma mainly occurs as a result of an eye injury or another eye condition, such as inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. Developmental glaucoma is a rare but serious type of glaucoma which occurs in very young children, it is caused by an abnormality of the eye.

How common is glaucoma?

On the NHS choices glaucoma page, it states that in England and Wales it is estimated that more than 500,000 people have glaucoma. Chronic open-angle glaucoma is estimated to affect up to two in every 100 people over 40 years old, with an increase of around five in every 100 people over 80 years old.

Treating glaucoma

Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. The treatment aims to control the condition and minimise future damage to the eye.

(Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field) PEMF therapy and Glaucoma

Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Fields (PEMFs) have been shown in several research studies to have a positive impact on the glaucoma process, from potential to initial to later stages. Greater benefits are expected to be seen in earlier stages.

PEMFs affect the flow of fluids in the eyes and therefore the intraocular pressures, by decreasing inflammation, inducing the right kind of nitric oxide, improving circulation, particularly to the retina, and by probably also helping to stimulate repair of the nerve damage in the retina.

PEMF therapy study

In this study, patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with compensated intraocular pressure were administered magnetotherapy using an ATOS device with 33-mT magnetic field induction. The procedure was administered to a patient in a sitting posture with a magnetic inductor held before the eye. Sessions lasted 10 minutes and each course included 10 sessions.

Following 4-5 months of therapy, results showed improved vision acuity 0.16 diopters, on an average of 29 out of 30 eyes with vision acuity below 1.0.

References:

http://drpawluk.com/updates/glaucoma/

Bisvas, et al.“Possibilities of Magnetotherapy in Stabilization of Visual Function in Patients with Glaucoma,”

Vestn Oftalmol, 112(1), Jauary-March 1996, p. 6-8.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Glaucoma/Pages/Introduction.aspx

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