Severe periocular ecchymosis following acupuncture therapy for dry eye: a report of two cases

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy used in many parts of the world to treat a variety of disorders. Two women aged 61 and 86 years old presented with painless bruising around their right eye for 3 and 10 days, respectively, following acupuncture therapy for dry eye. The younger woman was on oral acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg daily and it was her second episode of ocular bruising from a total of 20 therapy sessions. Clinical examination disclosed severe periocular ecchymosis in their right eye. There was no proptosis or globe perforation. The ecchymosis gradually resolved over a few weeks without any visual sequelae in both cases. Periocular acupuncture can cause severe periocular ecchymoses. Patients should be informed of this and other potentially sight-threatening complications associated with this form of treatment, and both acupuncture practitioners and ophthalmologists should be alert to recognize such complications early so that they can be appropriately managed.