Blindness and Chiropractic
and Other Visual Disorders

This section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:   Frankp@chiro.org
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Chiropractic Research Results for Blindness or Other Visual Disorders

	The Return of Color Vision Secondary to Macular Degeneration After Chiropractic Care Chiropractic Journal of Australia 2017; 45 (1): 38–43 ~ FULL TEXT The patient was adjusted based on location of her subluxations (intersegmental joint dysfunction).  She had 17 treatments over 8 month.  A thermography study was performed of the face before and after treatment and a more symmetrical thermal pattern was obtained.  Her spinal pain reduced.  She also unexpectedly had a return of color vision in her left eye.
	A Single Cohort Prospective Trial of the Immediate Effects of Spinal Manipulation on Visual Acuity J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2016 (Mar); 60 (1): 88–92 ~ FULL TEXT The experimental protocol was well accepted by patients and caused minimal or no disruption of the clinic routine. By some measures, chiropractic treatment was accompanied by statistically significant improvements in visual acuity.   The results of this study indicate that it is quite feasible to conduct a prospective, community based clinical study of the acute effects of spinal manipulation on visual acuity.
	Treatment of Severe Glaucomatous Visual Field Deficit by Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy: A Prospective Case Study and Discussion J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000 (Jul); 23 (6): 428–434 ~ FULL TEXT Recovery of vision in this patient was an unexpected and remarkable outcome, raising the question of whether chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy may be of value in the management of glaucomatous visual field loss. More intensive research is required.
	Bilateral Simultaneous Optic Nerve Dysfunction After Periorbital Trauma: Recovery of Vision in Association with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation Therapy J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999 (Nov); 22 (9): 615–621 ~ FULL TEXT Chiropractic spinal manipulation was used to aid recovery of vision to normal over a course of 20 treatment sessions. At times, significant improvement in vision occurred immediately after spinal manipulation. Progressive recovery of vision was monitored by serial visual field tests and by electrophysiologic studies. Unfortunately, the patient refused a further single photon emission tomographic study when visual recovery was complete.
	Vision, the Cervical Spine, and Chiropractic The Chiropractic Journal 1996 (Nov) Many doctors of chiropractic have encountered instances where the vision of a patient improved following chiropractic care. In the last few years, the peer reviewed literature has been filled with case reports and other articles addressing this phenomenon. Of particular interest is the physiologic rationale that has been proposed to explain the clinical results.
	Does 'Normal' Vision Improve with Spinal Manipulation? J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1996 (Jul); 19 (6): 415–418 To define a guideline for a proposed investigation into visual field changes with spinal adjustment, his visual fields were tested before and after a normal office spinal manipulation. After this procedure, there was a measurable rise in the visual sensitivity of both eyes.
	Monocular Scotomata and Spinal Manipulation: The Step Phenomenon J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1996 (Jun); 19 (5): 344–349 Spinal manipulation treatment was continued with total resolution of the scotoma. The rate of recovery of the scotoma was mapped using computerized static perimetry. These measurements showed that significant recovery occurred at each spinal manipulation treatment, producing a stepped graph.
	Monocular Visual Loss After Closed Head Trauma: Immediate Resolution Associated with Spinal Manipulation J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995 (Jun); 18 (5): 308–314 The patient suffered separate incidents of binocular and monocular loss of vision. A female child, aged 9 yr, presented with bilateral concentric narrowing of the visual fields that returned to normal immediately after spinal treatment. Approximately 1 yr later, she returned with monocular loss of vision after she was struck on the head by a ball.
	The Eye, the Cervical Spine, and Spinal Manipulative Therapy: A Review of the Literature Chiropractic Technique 1995 (May): 7 (2): 43–54 Practitioners of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) note that after patients occasionally state that their vision has improved. Visual improvement is mentioned by patients more commonly than the appearance of reports in the literature would suggest. Various ocular effects of spinal manipulative therapy have appeared in the literature. These have included changes in visual acuity, oculomotor function, intraocular pressure, and pupillary size. This paper reviews the literature regarding connections between the eye, the cervical spine, and spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) with a view to future research in this area. Various theories that have been proposed are briefly reviewed.
	The Treatment of Presumptive Optic Nerve Ischemia by Spinal Manipulation J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995 (Mar); 18 (3): 172–177 This case study records improvement in optic nerve function when measured before and after spinal manipulation using computerized static perimetry. It contends that spinal manipulation can affect the function of the optic nerve in some patients, presumably by increasing vascular perfusion. I hypothesize that derangement of the cervical spine produces microvascular spasm in the cerebral vasculature, including that of the eye.

Other Management Approaches

How Chiropractic and Edgar Cayce Readings Helped With Blindness Edgar Cayce Foundation (Association for Research and Enlightenment,) At the age of 27, I suddenly lost the sight in my left eye due to optic neuritis. I went to three ophthalmologists including the head neuro-ophthalmologist at NYU hospital. I was offered only steroids as a treatment, which I was afraid to take because my body is extremely sensitive, and I was concerned about the side effects. Fortunately, a family friend told my mother to get me to a chiropractor immediately. I was a member of the Edgar Cayce organization, the Association for Research and Enlightenment, and I was aware that Edgar Cayce recommended chiropractic adjustments for all sorts of ailments, and that the A.R.E. had a listing of chiropractic members. I decided that I wanted to be treated by a chiropractor who would treat me with the Cayce remedies for blindness.

Natural Therapies for Ocular Disorders    Part I: Diseases of the Retina Alternative Medicine Review 1999 (Oct); 4 (5): 342–359 ~ FULL TEXT During the past few decades numerous studies have been published on the efficacy of nutritional and botanical medicines in the prevention and treatment of ocular diseases, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, glaucoma, and others. Part One of this review will explore the research on diseases of the retina, including macular degeneration, retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Part Two (to be published in a future issue) will include a review of the literature on cataracts, glaucoma, and other non-retinal disorders.    Part II: Cataracts and Glaucoma Alternative Medicine Review 2001 (Apr); 6 (2): 141–166 ~ FULL TEXT A large percentage of blindness in the world is nutritionally preventable. 1 The author of this comment was referring primarily to the use of vitamin A to prevent corneal degeneration associated with a vitamin A deficiency; however, there is considerable evidence that many other eye conditions, which are leading causes of vision impairment and blindness, also may be preventable with nutritional supplementation, botanical medicines, diet, and other lifestyle changes. In addition, a number of nutrients hold promise for the treatment of already existing cataracts and glaucoma.

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Updated 7-21-2022