Microacupuncture is one of the most effective methods to treat vision loss from degenerative eye diseases. Common conditions MicroAcupuncture is helpful for include: Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt’s Rod/Cone dystrophy, Glaucoma, Diabetic neuropathy, as well as other degenerative diseases of the eyes.
*Note: No needles are every placed in the eye. Microacupuncture points are in the hands and feet.
How does MicroAcupuncture work?
MicroAcupuncture is a very specific style of acupuncture involving points on the hands and feet and works by stimulating increased blood flow to the eyes.
Our eyes are constantly healing and regenerating old and damaged cells. These cells need normal blood circulation to provide oxygen and nutrients to heal. This applies to all tissues in our body. When circulation is compromised for any reason, those tissues degenerate.
For some people, their body cannot keep up with the amount of damage that is occurring because the tiny blood vessels that supply their eye with circulation get blocked or become damaged.
In ALL cases of degenerative eye conditions, this circulation is compromised and their eye cannot keep up with healing their old and damaged cells.
The cells in the back of our eye break down and regenerate every 2 days. So vision changes (both positive and negative) happen quickly.
MicroAcupuncture helps to increase blood circulation specifically to the eye and retinal cells. This allows those cells to heal and regenerate. This specialized acupuncture also helps to wake up dormant retinal cells. It is not a cure, but a treatment that helps the eyes to heal from the damage caused by the disease
With intense treatment a patient can see results in as little as two days after beginning treatment since that is the amount of time it takes our retinal cells to repair and regenerate.
Microacupuncture is more effective if performed multiple times a day. This allows for a significant increase in blood flow and a compounding positive effect on your vision.
What Degenerative Eye Conditions Is MicroAcupuncture Good For?
This treatment modality is used for a variety of medical conditions, but is most notably used for people suffering from Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt’s Rod/Cone dystrophy, Glaucoma, Diabetic neuropathy, as well as other degenerative diseases of the eyes.
Where Does MicroAcupuncture Come From?
Microacupuncture was developed in Denmark by Freddy Dahlgren and came to the USA via Per Otte in the 1980’s. Only a small handful of practitioners have learned this very specific system of acupuncture.
This acupuncture system is not something that is a part of the various treatment styles taught in acupuncture school – it is only learned from apprenticeship and requires precision because
the points on the hands and feet are very small.
The Results of MicroAcupuncture Treatment
It’s hard to argue with hard data. Here’s a visual field scan of a patient with macular degeneration before and after a weeks worth of intensive treatment. You can see how the visual field has changed significantly – going from mainly black to white indicating the patient was able to see the stimulus in their visual field.
This means being able to see faces right in the middle (centrally), brighter vision, improved ability to read.
*Note: Not every case is as dramatic as this change in their first week of treatment. Just like anything some patients do respond more quickly and better than others. Regardless, in most cases we can make some kind of improvement.
Microacupuncture Treatments in Tampa, Florida by Dr. Josh Hanson, DACM
Dr. Josh Hanson, DACM specializes in treating people who are losing vision from a degenerative eye disease.
To determine if you are a candidate for treatment and how you will likely respond to treatment with MicroAcupuncture, Dr. Hanson will perform a visual acuity and visual field scan.
This determines the level of vision loss the patient has experienced. The purpose is to establish a baseline from which we can quantify improvement in the patients vision following treatment. We reevaluate the patient after 9-12 treatments.
The level of vision loss, how quickly the patient is losing vision and severity of condition determines the number and frequency of treatments. One course of treatment is anywhere between 8 to 16 treatments.
In the beginning, most patients come more often that those who are on a maintenance schedule. Think of it as climbing a mountain. We keep going until we reach the top (in this case, a threshold); after that point patients usually come about 1 -2 times a year.
Treatment begins on Monday Morning and ends Thursday afternoon. Call the office to see when we have availability.
Call 813-534-0311 to schedule a Free phone call with Dr. Hanson to see how he can help.
