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A BLINDING NEEDLE

Boon Juan Y. & Mohd Aziz H.
abstract
Acupuncture, a practice rooted in traditional complementary medicine (TCM), involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin. It has been proposed as an adjunct treatment for optic nerve and retinal diseases. However, there have been documented cases of ocular infections, including cellulitis and endophthalmitis, associated with acupuncture.  In this report, we present a case of pan-ophthalmitis, an infection affecting the entire eyeball, that occurred following acupuncture treatment. The purpose of this report is to highlight the risks associated with TCM treatments, which are often overlooked or insufficiently communicated to patients. Tragically, the outcome for this patient was blindness, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making when considering acupuncture as a treatment option.
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