By Shandong Science And Technology Press (1985)
Clinically, there are two types of color blindness – congenital and acquired. The common causes of acquired color blindness are optic atrophy, intoxication of alcohol or tobacco, weakness of visual activity or other fundus diseases.
Only congenital color blindness will be discussed in this chapter.
Symptoms and Signs
The primary disturbance is loss of perception of two or one fundamental color. Congenital color blindness occurs more in the males. It generally affects both eyes, is often hereditary in nature.
Treatment
A Points:
Group 1: Yiming, Zanzhu, and Qiuhou
Group 2: Jingming, Taiyang, and Fengchi
B Procedure: the method of inserting needles is the same as for cataract. Retain the needles for 30 minutes. Manipulate the needle once every 5 ~ 10 minute. Remedy given once daily. Each 7 ~ 10 times of treatment is a therapeutic course, with the internal of every 2 ~ 3 days between courses.
C Case example
Nov 24, 1969, O.P.D. patient Pong, male, 17 years old, a student.
Partial achromatopsia revealed in routine physical examination. Visual acuteness 1.5 o.u. Visual perception of red and green colors recovered after 1 course of remedy and all color perception recovered after 2 courses. Patient was recruited into the army next year.
Remarks
Color perception is formed in the retina cones. There are three kinds of cones which can concept the color red, blue, and purple respectively, causing the chemical reactions and nervous impulses which are transmitted through the optic nerve into the brain. Any disturbance on the pathway given above may cause color blindness.
Till now, effective drug for treating color blindness has not been discovered, but good results of acupuncture in treating this disease have been reported. For example there was a report by Tianjin First Central Hospital about the result of treating 19 cases of color blindness, among whom, 6 cases cured, 2 cases markedly improved, and 5 cases mild improvement. Another report dealt with the good result was written by Shanxi Chinese Traditional Medical College.
It has been proved that penetration of points in eye region or neighboring area is very effective to treating color blindness. The results usually depend upon the acupuncture sensation, courses of therapy, patient’s age etc. The efficiency of treatment is directly proportional to the acupuncture sensation. A further therapeutic course should be given after effect appeared.