Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Dry Eye Disease With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Dry Eye Disease With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for the patients with dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction.

Methods: We enrolled 270 patients at Beijing Tongren Hospital. All treatments were self-administered by the patients at home after training at the hospital. Patients completed questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

OSDI score, TBUT, OPAS, NPSI-eye, and Schirmer I expressibility and secretion score to evaluate the therapeutic effects. A difference of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age >=18 and Age <=65.
2. Clinical diagnosis of dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of depression, tumors, thyroid disease, diabetes, cardiac diseases.
2. History of Otorhinolaryngology surgery.
3. Pregnant or lactating women.