Electroacupuncture for mild-to-moderate dry eye: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, single-blind, sham-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Dry eye (DE) is a multifactorial ocular surface disease causing considerable medical, social and financial implications. Currently, there is no recognised long-term, effective treatment to alleviate DE. Clinical evidence shows that electroacupuncture (EA) can improve DE symptoms, tear secretion and tear film stability, but it remains controversial whether it is just a placebo effect. We aim to provide solid clinical evidence for the EA treatment of DE.

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre, randomised, sham-controlled trial. A total of 168 patients with DE will be enrolled and randomly assigned to EA or sham EA groups to receive 4-week consecutive treatments and follow-up for 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in the non-invasive tear break-up time

SUBMITTER: Lu YQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10711924 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature