Randomized Controlled Trial of Intradermal Pressing Needle Plus Artificial Tears for Perimenopausal Dry Eye

Abstract

This exploratory, randomized, single-blind controlled trial aimed to observe the clinical effect of pressing needle combined with artificial tears versus artificial tears alone in the treatment of perimenopausal women with dry eyes. A total of 40 perimenopausal women with dry eyes were randomly divided into a control group (20 patients) and an observation group (20 patients). The control group was treated with artificial tears while the observation group was treated with pressing needle and embedding needle in addition to artificial tears. The primary outcome was the change in tear film break-up time (BUT) from baseline to 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, subjective symptom score, and clinical response rate. After 2 weeks, the observation group showed significantly greater improvement in BUT (between-group mean difference 0.715 s; 95% CI: 0.358–1.072 s, P < 0.001) and SIT (between-group mean difference 0.697 mm; 95% CI: 0.310–1.084 mm, P < 0.001) compared with the control group. No statistically significant between-group differences were found in subjective symptom scores (P = 0.440) or CFS scores (P = 0.069). The total clinical effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group (95.00%) than that in the control group (65.00%, P = 0.044). No treatment-related adverse events were reported. Pressing needle used in clinical application effectively improved the dry eye symptoms of perimenopausal women, promoted the secretion of tears, and prolonged the tear film rupture time.

Keywords

pressing needle xerophthalmia perimenopause artificial tears tear secretion test corneal fluorescence staining

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Chen

Gao

(2016). Effect and mechanism of acupuncture on rabbit dry eye model induced by scopolamine. China Journal of Chinese Ophthalmology, 26(5), 261–263. https://doi.org/10.13444/j.cnki.zgzyykzz.2016.05.001

Chi

Barth

Wang

Robinson

Z. H.

Liu

J. P.

(2021). Eye acupuncture for pain conditions: A scoping review of clinical studies. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03272-8

Dhaliwal

D. K.

Zhou

Samudre

S. S.

(2019). Acupuncture and dry eye: Current perspectives. A double-blinded randomized controlled trial and review of the literature. Clinical Ophthalmology 13, 731–740. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S175321

Inanc

B. B.

(2015). A new theory on the evaluation of traditional Chinese acupuncture mechanisms from the latest medical scientific point of view. Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research, 40(3), 189–204. https://doi.org/10.3727/036012915X14473562232987

Kaido

Tsubota

(2015). Dry eye: Future directions and research. In Chan

(Ed.), Dry eye a practical approach (pp. 85–101).

Cao

(2019). Effect of yiguanjian on dry eye of perimenopausal women. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 29(3), 215–218.

Liang

X. B.

Wang

J. J.

Narain

(2020). The use of acupuncture in eye diseases: An overview. Complement Altern Med, 2(4), 237–242. https://doi.org/10.32474/OAJCAM.2020.02.000146

Liu

Wang

(2018). Construction of management system for chronic dry eye diseases. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 54(2), 81–83.

Liu

(2015). Current progress in postmenopausal women with dry eye. International Eye Science, 15(8), 1350–1352. https://doi.org/10.3980/j.issn.1672-5123.2015.8.11

10.

Liu

Gao

(2014). Effect of acupuncture and medicine on tear secretion and acetylcholine content in lacrimal gland of dry eye rabbit model. Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 30(5), 447–449.

11.

Liu

Xie

(2015). Clinical treatment consensus of dry eye disease. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 49(1), 73–75.

12.

Nishinaka

Nitta

Seki

Hara

Shimazawa

(2020). The changes in blood flow seen in the eye after foot acupuncture treatment in mice. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM, 2020, 6405471. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6405471

13.

Peng

Liu

Yao

Zeng

(2009). Effect of acupuncture on the regulation of sex hormone in patients with xerophthalmia. International Eye Science, 9(8), 1534–1536. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-5123.2009.08.036

14.

Seamon

Vellala

Zylberberg

Ponamareva

Azzarolo

A. M.

(2008). Sex hormone regulation of tear lipocalin in the rabbit lacrimal gland. Experimental Eye Research, 87(3), 184–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exer.2008.05.012

15.

Sullivan

D. A.

Rocha

E. M.

Aragona

Clayton

J. A.

Ding

Golebiowski

Willcox

M. D. P.

(2017). TFOS DEWS II sex, gender, and hormones report. The Ocular Surface, 15(3), 284–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2017.04.001

16.

Wang

Tang

Zhang

(2008). Changes in high order aberrations of anterior and posterior surfaces of cornea before and after phacoemulsification. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 44(12), 1066–1071. https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:0412-4081.2008.12.004

17.

Wen

(2014). Clinical application of pressing needle therapy. Shanghai Medical Journal, 35(22), 34–35.

18.

Fan

Meng

Luan

Guan

D. P.

(2020). Use of acupoint stimulation to regulate perioperative stress-induced immunosuppression. Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research, 44(3), 203–212. https://doi.org/10.3727/036012920X15779969212946

19.

Yang

Zhou

(2015). Clinical observation of QijuDihuang decoction combined with ultrasonic atomization in the treatment of perimenopausal dry eye. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 25(3), 187–190.

20.

Zhang

Liu

Yang

(2016). Influence of electroacupuncture on histomorphology of lacrimal glands and ocular surface in experimental dry eye syndrome. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 14, 320–327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-016-0943-1

21.

Zhang

(2014). Analysis of the effect of hormone replacement therapy on dry eye of menopausal women. Chinese Journal of Maternal and Child Health, 29(35), 5776–5778.

22.

Zhao

Tseng

Zhao

Chen

S. K.

Shi

Tseng

(2017). The molecular mechanistic effects of acupuncture in endometriosis management. Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research, 42(3-4), 217–225. https://doi.org/10.3727/036012917X15118029263210