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Acupuncture for the management of dry eye disease

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Abstract

The effectiveness of using acupuncture for dry eye disease (DED) is controversial. Thus, this systematic review investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of using acupuncture for DED in accordance with the 2020 PRISMA statement. The outcomes of interests were (1) to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in improving the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer I test score, and tear breakup time from baseline to the last follow-up; (2) to determine possible complications of using acupuncture; and (3) to investigate the superiority of acupuncture over other commonly used treatments for DED. Data from 394 patients were collected. Results showed that acupuncture significantly prolonged the tear breakup time (P < 0.0001), significantly increased the Schirmer I test score (P < 0.0001), and significantly reduced the OSDI (P < 0.0001) from baseline to the last follow-up. Compared with the control group, the acupuncture group had significantly greater Schirmer I test score (P < 0.0001), significantly longer tear breakup time (P = 0.0004), and significantly lower OSDI (P = 0.002). These results suggest that acupuncture is effective and feasible in improving symptoms and signs of DED. No severe adverse effects of acupuncture were observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Julia Prinz, Matthias Fuest & Peter Walter

  2. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081, Baronissi, SA, Italy

    Nicola Maffulli

  3. Queen Mary University of London, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, 275 Bancroft Road, London, EI 4DG, England

    Nicola Maffulli

  4. School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University Faculty of Medicine, Thornburrow Drive, Stoke on Trent, England

    Nicola Maffulli

  5. Department of Orthopedics, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, 52064, Aachen, Germany

    Frank Hildebrand & Filippo Migliorini

Authors
  1. Julia Prinz
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Correspondence to Filippo Migliorini.

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Julia Prinz, Nicola Maffulli, Matthias Fuest, Peter Walter, Frank Hildebrand, and Filippo Migliorini declare that they have no conflict of interests for this article. This manuscript does not involve a research protocol requiring approval by the relevant institutional review board or ethics committee.

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Prinz, J., Maffulli, N., Fuest, M. et al. Acupuncture for the management of dry eye disease. Front. Med. 16, 975–983 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-022-0923-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-022-0923-4

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