Acupuncture for ophthalmoplegia: Protocol for a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Neurology

Background:

• Ophthalmoplegia, caused by various factors like lesions or diabetes, impacts numerous individuals annually.
• Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy frequently employed for ophthalmological conditions, including ophthalmoplegia.
• Clinical trials suggest acupuncture may enhance the recovery of extraocular muscles in ophthalmoplegia patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treating ophthalmoplegia.
• To synthesize current evidence on acupuncture's impact on ophthalmoplegia recovery.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, EMBASE, etc.) up to March 31, 2018.
• Systematic review and data extraction by two independent reviewers, assessing study quality.
• Meta-analysis using fixed- or random-effects models, focusing on primary outcomes like eyeball movement distance and strabismus reduction.

Main Results:

• The study will synthesize evidence on acupuncture's effects on key ophthalmoplegia indicators.
• Primary outcomes analyzed include eyeball movement distance, palpebral fissure size, and strabismus reduction.
• Secondary outcomes encompass pupil size, symptom scores, ocular localization, functional impairment, and safety.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review aims to provide robust evidence on acupuncture's efficacy and safety for ophthalmoplegia.
• Findings will inform clinical practice regarding acupuncture as a treatment for ophthalmoplegia patients.