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Electrical stimulation of auricular acupressure for dry eye: A randomized controlled-clinical trial

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of electrical stimulation (ES) of auricular acupressure on reducing the ocular symptoms and signs before and after treatment for dry eye.

Methods

The inclusion criteria were the tear film break-up time (TFBUT) below 5 s and a Schirmer test-I below 5 mm in dry eyes with ocular symptoms for at least 6 months. Subjects were randomized into a treatment group (50 cases) with continuous low frequency ES under auricular acupressure at acupoints and a no ES under auricular acupressure (no-ES, control group, 50 cases) on the same acupoints. Auricular acupressure were stimulated with ES at 4 master points of both ears, which were performed twice a week for 4 weeks at each point for 30 s. The ocular symptoms, the TFBUT, and Schirmer test-I were evaluated before and after this procedure.

Results

There were significantly better scores in TFBUT (P=0.032), the Schirmer test-I (P=0.044) and ocular symptoms (P=0.029) at 3 months post-treatment in the treatment group than in the control group. The total effective rate in the treatment group was accomplished in 41 (82%) of the 50 cases of dry eye.

Conclusions

Auricular acupressure with ES at auricular acupoint improves ocular symptoms and signs of dry eye for a period of at least 3 months.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Prof. Byung Mann Cho, Department of Preventive Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine for statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan, 602-739, Republic of Korea

    Jong Soo Lee

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Jung’s Eye Center, Pusan, 616-849, Republic of Korea

    Sang Ho Hwang

  3. Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 626-870, Republic of Korea

    Byung Cheul Shin

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, 51472, Republic of Korea

    Young Min Park

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  1. Jong Soo Lee
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  2. Sang Ho Hwang
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Correspondence to Jong Soo Lee.

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Lee, J.S., Hwang, S.H., Shin, B.C. et al. Electrical stimulation of auricular acupressure for dry eye: A randomized controlled-clinical trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 822–828 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2449-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2449-6

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