Effects of a single osteopathic manipulative treatment on intraocular pressure reduction: a pilot study

Context Research on the effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on visual functions and conditions is very limited. This study continues the exploration on the application of OMT with the intent of lowering intraocular pressure (IOP).Objectives A pilot randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess the impact of one OMT session on patients diagnosed with suspected ocular hypertension (OHT) or glaucoma.Methods Patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized to OMT treatment or no-treatment control groups. Total n=16: treatment=9, control=7. The OMT included osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine (OCMM) along with myofascial release (MFR) and soft-tissue procedures. There were no adverse events reported in either cohort. Each patient was seen in AM and PM sessions for 5 days; the first 2 days established eligibility to be randomized to treatment or control cohorts after the Day 3 AM IOP assessment. Subjects in the control group laid on the treatment table with no OMT performed. Immediately after the intervention, the patient had a second Day 3 IOP assessment, then a PM IOP assessment. On Day 4, the patient received an AM and PM IOP assessment, and on Day 5, at the 1-week follow-up time period the patients again received AM and PM IOP assessments.Results In the OMT treatment group, significant IOP reductions were detected posttreatment with differences between the Day 3 initial AM pre-randomization IOP level and the immediate postintervention IOP (p=0.027; -1.361 mmHg), the Day 4 PM (p=0.016; -1.556 mmHg), and the Day 5 PM (p=0.014; 1.382 mmHg).Conclusions The application of OMT shows potential benefit in the reduction of IOP in patients with suspected OHT and patients with suspected glaucoma.