Clinical Trial: Acupuncture for the Treatment of Vision Loss Due to Retinitis Pigmentosa

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Acupuncture for the Treatment of Vision Loss Due to Retinitis Pigmentosa

Brief Summary: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) patients are interested in trying alternative therapies to attempt to slow, halt or reverse the retinal disease process, and claim success with some approaches such as acupuncture, but this potential treatment has not been put to the test of objective, rigorous scientific study conducted in western society. In this pilot study, the investigators aim to evaluate an acupuncture treatment tailored to the RP population for its feasibility to improve visual function, specifically visual field and dark adaptation. The study results may provide a basis for eye care providers' recommendations to RP patients regarding whether to consider acupuncture as a potential treatment modality. If our hypotheses regarding improvements in vision beyond typical test variability are supported, our future research goals include the conduct of a larger clinical trial with involving randomization and a placebo control for acupuncture in RP.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University

Current Primary Outcome: Dark-adapted (Scotopic) Full-field Stimulus Test [ Time Frame: initial response within 2 weeks after completion of treatment ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Goldmann visual fields [ Time Frame: initial response within 2 weeks of treatment completion ]
  • PC-based vision tests (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field) [ Time Frame: initial response within 2 weeks of treatment completion ]
  • ETDRS visual acuity [ Time Frame: initial response within 2 weeks of treatment completion ]
  • Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity [ Time Frame: initial response within 2 weeks of treatment completion ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Johns Hopkins University

Dates:
Date Received: May 21, 2012
Date Started: April 2012
Date Completion:
Last Updated: March 3, 2014
Last Verified: March 2014