I have been using microcurrent stimulation in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa for the last 10 years. I have observed that many patients have expansion of their visual fields with improvement of acuity and visual function after microcurrent treatment. The results of 18 patients treated were reviewed from 2000 to 2009. 16 patients had an expansion of visual fields ranging from 5 to 25 degrees. This was measured  using a Campimeter (A tangent screen to measure central colored visual fields – white, red, green and blue).

A recent study was published from the University of Rome  using electroacupuncture in the treatment of a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. 

Lucia Pagani, Luigi Manni, Luigi Aloe. Effects of electroacupuncture on retinal nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, NGF Section, CNR-EBRI, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143 Rome, Italy  Accepted 20 March 2006 Available online 11 May 2006

Abstract

The study  revealed that daily sessions of low-frequency EA during a critical developmental stage of retinal cell degeneration cause an increase of retinal nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF high-affinity receptor expression; and increase of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness; and enhanced vascularization.

These findings suggest the possible beneficial effects of EA treatment in the development of RP-like retinal degeneration of RCS rats and that the mechanism through which EA might exerts its action on the regulation of NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and/or their receptors in retinal cells. To view the complete article