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Effectiveness and Safety of Auricular Acupressure Combined with Periocular Thumbtack Needle Therapy for Premyopic
Xin-Yue Hou1, Bao-Hua Li1, Jian-Quan Wang1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100040, China.
Insights
Auricular acupressure combined with periocular thumbtack needle (AATN) therapy effectively controlled myopia progression in children. This treatment improved spherical equivalent and axial length, offering a promising intervention for premyopia.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Pediatric Eye Care
Background:
- Premyoopia is a growing concern in children, increasing the risk of developing myopia.
- Early intervention strategies are crucial to slow myopia progression and prevent associated visual impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure combined with periocular thumbtack needle (AATN) therapy for premyopia children.
- To assess the impact of AATN therapy on refractive error, axial length, and visual function.
Main Methods:
- A multi-center, randomized controlled trial involving 298 premyopia children aged 6-10 years.
- Participants were assigned to either AATN therapy plus standard eye health instruction or standard instruction alone.
- Outcomes included changes in spherical equivalent (SE), myopia stability rate (MSR), axial length (AL), and accommodative amplitude (AMP) over a 9-month period.
Main Results:
- The AATN group showed significantly better SE control (-0.65±0.44 D vs. -0.81±0.55 D) and a higher MSR (57.78% vs. 37.10%) compared to the control group at 36 weeks.
- AATN therapy led to reduced axial length elongation (0.20±0.42 mm vs. 0.35±0.28 mm) and enhanced accommodative amplitude (9.85±3.41 vs. 8.85±4.02).
- No significant differences in uncorrected visual acuity or corneal curvature were observed, and no adverse events were reported.
Conclusions:
- AATN therapy is an effective and safe treatment for controlling myopia onset and progression in premyopia children.
- The therapy demonstrates benefits in improving spherical equivalent, enhancing ocular accommodation, and mitigating axial length increase.
- AATN therapy presents a viable non-pharmacological approach for managing pediatric premyopia.
Objective:
To evaluate the effects and safety of auricular acupressure combined with periocular thumbtack needle (AATN) therapy for premyopia children.
Methods:
This multi-center, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 8 Chinese hospitals, and 298 premyopic children aged 6 to 10 years were recruited between October 2020 and February 2022. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group via a simple randomization method. All the participants in both groups were provided with standard intensive eye health instruction through phone calls, WeChat or hospital visits once a week, and the children in the treatment group received AATN therapy additionally. Following 12-week treatment, participants were followed up at 3-month intervals, with the entire study extending over a 9-month duration from baseline to the final assessment. The primary outcome was the mean change in spherical equivalent (SE) from baseline to 36 weeks. The secondary outcomes included the rate of children with stable myopia (MSR), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), axial length (AL), corneal curvature (CC), accommodative amplitude (AMP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline, 6,12, 24 and 36 weeks. Safety assessment included analysis of treatment-related adverse events (AEs), such as allergic reactions and skin damage.
Results:
Totally, 298 children with premyopia were included, 151 in the treatment group and 147 in the control group. At the 36th week, the SE was -0.81±0.55 D in the control group and -0.65±0.44 D in the treatment group (P=0.002). The treatment group demonstrated superior SE control efficacy compared with the control group, with differences of -0.29±0.37 D and -0.49±0.44 D, respectively (P<0.01). The children in the treatment group achieved a MSR of 57.78% with more favorable outcome than 37.10% in the control group (P<0.01). The adjusted mean change in AMP from baseline to 9th month was 8.85±4.02 in the control group and 9.85±3.41 in the treatment group (P=0.018). AL increased by a mean of 0.35±0.28 mm in the control group and 0.20±0.42 mm in the treatment group (P=0.004). No significant differences in UCVA or CC were found between the two groups (P>0.05) and no AEs were reported.
Conclusion:
AATN therapy was effective for controlling the onset of myopia and SE, enhancing ocular accommodation, and mitigating AL. (Registration No. ChiCTR2000039299).
