Laser Acupuncture for Dry Eye

Laser Acupuncture Therapy in Patients With Dry Eye: A Two-center Randomized Controlled Trial

Subjects with dry eye are enrolled at two ophthalmic centers and randomly assigned to a laser acupuncture group and control group under conventional treatment with artificial tears. The effects of laser acupuncture therapy for patients with dry eye are investigated.

Objective: Dry eye is a common ophthalmologic disorder causing ocular discomfort in daily life. The investigators aim to investigate the effects of laser acupuncture therapy for patients with dry eye.

Methods: 200 subjects with dry eye are enrolled at two ophthalmic centers and randomly assigned to a laser acupuncture group and control group under conventional treatment with artificial tears. The subjects are treated at acupoints including BL2, TE23, ST2, LI4, ST36, and GB37 using verum or sham laser acupuncture during 3 sessions per week. After 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, the differences in the Tear film break-up time, Schirmer test, visual analogue scale, Ocular Surface Disease Index of the patients are analyzed, and compared between the laser acupuncture and control groups using paired t-test and one way ANOVA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 20 < age < 65, with aggravated dry eye (one or both eyes), evaluated by ophthalmologist and provides informed consent.
• Tear film break-up time < 10 s
• Schirmer's strips with anesthesia < 5mm/ 5min

Exclusion Criteria:

• presence of eye lesions, received operation for eye during the past three months, combination of other ophthalmic medication, or using contact lens
• pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, vitamin A deficiency, sequelae of Bell's palsy, hemodialysis
• critical illness such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, etc
• has taken or needs active treatment (including Chinese medicine)
• presence of a pacemaker; history of seizure or epilepsy; using immunosuppressants; cancer; infectious disease of skin
• does not meet the physician's assessment for recruitment
• lack of informed consent.