[Tuina for intermittent exotropia: a case report]

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Background:

• Intermittent exotropia is a common form of strabismus characterized by outward deviation of the eyes.
• Conventional treatments may have limitations, prompting exploration of alternative therapies.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnoses eye conditions based on systemic imbalances, such as qi deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case report on the efficacy of Tuina in treating intermittent exotropia in a pediatric patient.
• To describe the TCM diagnosis and therapeutic principles applied.
• To detail the specific Tuina techniques and acupoint prescriptions used.

Main Methods:

• A child diagnosed with intermittent exotropia and TCM-based deficiencies (liver/kidney, spleen/stomach qi) received Tuina therapy.
• Treatment involved manual stimulation of acupoints on the head, face, neck, upper, and lower limbs.
• A structured schedule of Tuina application and specific eye exercises were employed over three months.

Main Results:

• The patient's intermittent exotropia, manifesting as right eye deviation, resolved completely after three months of Tuina treatment.
• Eye position returned to normal, and a subsequent three-month follow-up confirmed no relapse.
• The TCM diagnosis guided the treatment principles of harmonizing qi and blood and tonifying deficiencies.

Conclusions:

• Tuina therapy, guided by TCM principles, demonstrated significant effectiveness in correcting intermittent exotropia in this pediatric case.
• This case highlights the potential of Tuina as a non-invasive treatment option for certain ophthalmic conditions.
• Further research into Tuina for strabismus is warranted to explore its broader clinical application.