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Acute and Chronic Periocular Massage for Ocular Blood Flow and Vision: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Naoyuki Hayashi1,2, Lanfei Du2
1Institute for Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan.
Introduction:
The ocular blood flow (OBF) is responsible for supplying nutrition to the retina, which plays a fundamental role in visual function. Massage is expected to improve the blood flow and, consequently, vascular function. The aim of this study was to determine the short-term and long-term effects of periocular massage on OBF and visual acuity.
Methods:
The OBF and visual acuity were measured in 40 healthy adults aged 20-30 years before and after massage, and also in control subjects. Three massage methods were used: applying periocular acupressure ("Chinese eye exercise": CE), using a facial massage roller (MR), and using an automated eye massager (AM). The OBF and visual acuity were first measured before and after applying each type of massage for 5 min. Eye massage was then applied for 5 min once daily over a 60-day period, while the control group received no massage. The same measurements were then performed again.
Results:
Performing short-term periocular massage showed significant interactions in time and massage effects on visual acuity in CE and AM groups, and on OBF in AM group, while 60-day massage period exerted no significant effects. No significant relationship was found between OBF and visual acuity changes.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that short-term periocular massage with Chinese eye exercise and automated eye massager can improve OBF and visual acuity, although no causal relationship was supported.
