Acupuncture

OBJECTIVE: To observed the clinical efficacy on dry eye syndrome treated with acupuncture on the acupoints around the eyes. METHODS: Fifty-six cases of dry eye syndrome were divided into two groups, acupuncture group and western medicine group, 28 cases in each one. In acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Jingming (BL 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sizhukong (TE 23), Tongziliao (GB 1), etc. In western medicine group, the topical artificial tear eye drops were administered. The corneal fluorescein staining, breaking-up time (BUT), tear volume and the symptom score were observed before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS: In comparison before and after treatment in acupuncture group, the statistical significant difference presented in BUT, tear volume and the symptom score (all P<0.01). In comparison before and after treatment in western medicine group, the statistical significant difference presented in corneal staining, BUT and the symptom score (P<0.01). The improvements in BUT, tear volume and the symptom score in acupuncture group were superior to those in western medicine group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture on the acupoints around the eyes achieves a quite good efficacy on dry eye syndrome.