Visual stimulation as pain relief for Hong Kong Chinese patients with leg ulcers

Analgesic potential of visual stimulation was examined in 33 patients with leg ulcers in a randomized, controlled, crossover clinical trial. Patients were alternating between wearing an eyeglass display with soundless VCD broadcast (V-sessions) and a static blank screen (B-sessions) while receiving superficial debridement and wound dressing for their leg ulcers. A significant reduction in pain scores was found during V-sessions (VAS 67.7 +/- 28.4 vs. 25.6 +/- 29.8 when V-sessions vs. B-sessions, with p < 0.01). Age was positively correlated with the improvement in VAS, whereas gender, residency, and the underlying medical conditions were not correlated with the improvement in pain score. The use of visual stimulation might be beneficial to both genders, in an older age group regardless of the underlying medical conditions. This is the pioneer use of visual stimulation as a non-pharmacological adjuvant to pain relief among a local Chinese population. The study will certainly add knowledge to the existing pain relief methods.