ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy differences between acupuncture at distal acupoints and local acupoints on treatment of xerophthalmia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 40 patients of xerophthalmia were randomly divided into a distal group and a local group, 20 cases in each one. One patient in local group lost contact, and finally 20 cases in the distal group and 19 cases in the local group finished treatment. The patients in the distal group were treated with acupuncture at Guangming (GB 37) and Diwuhui (GB 42), while those in the local group were treated with acupuncture at Cuanzhu (BL 2), Tongziliao (GB 1) and Taiyang (EX-HN 5). Patients in both groups were treated once a day, five times per week, and totally 2-week treatment were given. The subjective symptom based on visual analogue scale (VAS), tear secretion, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and breakup time (BUT) were evaluated before treatment, after two-week treatment (end of treatment) and two weeks after end of treatment (follow-up visit) in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment and follow-up visit, the VAS, tear secretion, OSDI and BUT were all improved (<0.05,<0.01), but the differences of VAS and OSDI between the two groups were not significant (both>0.05). At follow-up visit, the differences of tear secretion and BUT between the two groups were significant (both<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupuncture at distal acupoints could relieve xerophthalmia symptoms, improve quality of life, increase tear secretion and prolong BUT, which is superior to local acupoints in long term.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Guangming (GB37) and Diwuhui (GB42) in treating dry eye due to different syndromes. Method Thirty-nine dry eye patients (78 eyes) conforming to syndrome of up-flaming liver fire or liver-kidney yin deficiency were randomized into a distant group and a periocular group, to receive acupuncture at distant acupoints [Guangming (GB37) and Diwuhui (GB42)] and periocular acupoints [Cuanzhu (BL2), Tongziliao (GB1), and Taiyang (EX-HN5)], respectively. Result In the distant group, the total effective rate was 60.0% after 2-week acupuncture and 75.0% after 4-week acupuncture; in the periocular group, the total effective rate was 53.6% after 2-week acupuncture and 65.8% after 4-week acupuncture. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The tear production and tear film break-up time (BUT) were significantly improved in both groups after the intervention (P0.05), while the inter-group difference in the improvement of liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome score was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at Guangming and Diwuhui can boost the improvement of dry eye symptoms and tear production, and prolong BUT; dry eye due to up-flaming liver fire achieved a satisfactory therapeutic efficacy in both groups, while liver-kidney yin deficiency type responded better to acupuncture at distant acupoints.