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Published on: September 1, 2018
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Auricular Acupressure Combined with Sodium Hyaluronate for Abnormal Blink Reflex in
Jiao Wang1, Gang Yang2, Na Yu3
1Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine.
Insights
Auricular acupressure combined with eye drops significantly improved abnormal blink reflex in children. This novel treatment enhanced tear film stability and reduced ocular discomfort, offering a safe and effective therapeutic option.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Abnormal blink reflex in children presents complex etiologies, including ocular surface disease and neuromuscular dysfunction.
- Current treatments for abnormal blink reflex demonstrate limited clinical efficacy.
- There is a critical need for novel and effective therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure combined with sodium hyaluronate eye drops for treating abnormal blink reflex in children.
- To compare the outcomes of this combined therapy against sodium hyaluronate eye drops alone and sham stimulation.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 97 children (aged 3-10 years) with abnormal blink reflex.
- Participants were assigned to three groups: sodium hyaluronate eye drops (Control), eye drops with auricular acupressure (Experimental), and eye drops with sham acupressure (Sham).
- Outcomes included blink rate, tear film break-up time (FBUT), corneal staining, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and overall clinical efficacy.
Main Results:
- The experimental group showed a significant reduction in blink rate and VAS scores for dryness and photophobia compared to control and sham groups.
- Significant improvements in tear film break-up time (FBUT) and corneal fluorescein staining (FL) scores were observed in the experimental group.
- The experimental group achieved a higher total effective rate (93.94%) compared to the control (78.13%) and sham (84.38%) groups, with no serious adverse events reported.
Conclusions:
- Auricular acupressure utilizing Vaccaria seed patches, when combined with sodium hyaluronate eye drops, is a safe and effective treatment for abnormal blink reflex in children.
- This integrated approach enhances ocular surface health, improves tear film stability, and alleviates associated symptoms.
- The findings support auricular acupressure as a promising new intervention for pediatric ophthalmology.
Abstract:
Abnormal blink reflex in children is a common ocular symptom with complex causes, including ocular surface diseases like dry eye and inflammation, as well as neuromuscular dysfunction. Current treatments show limited efficacy, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic options. This study evaluates the clinical efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure combined with sodium hyaluronate eye drops. A randomized controlled design included 97 children aged 3-10 years with abnormal blink reflex. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group (Group A, n = 32), treated with sodium hyaluronate eye drops; the experimental group (Group B, n = 33), receiving eye drops combined with auricular acupressure using Vaccaria seed patches; and the sham stimulation group (Group C, n = 32), receiving ear patches without Vaccaria seed. The treatment lasted for three cycles. The primary outcome was the blink rate, and secondary outcomes included tear film break-up time (FBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (FL) score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for ocular dryness and photophobia, clinical efficacy, and adverse events. Compared with Groups A and C, Group B showed a significant reduction in blink rate (P<0.05), a significant increase in FBUT (P<0.05), a notable decrease in FL score (P<0.05), and a significant reduction in VAS scores for ocular dryness and photophobia (P<0.05). No statistical differences in clinical symptoms and signs were observed between Groups A and C (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 78.13% for Group A, 93.94% for Group B, and 84.38% for Group C, with Group B showing significantly higher efficacy. No serious adverse events were observed in any group. Auricular acupressure with Vaccaria seed improves the clinical symptoms of abnormal blink reflex in children, enhances tear film stability, and provides corneal protection. It is a safe and effective new intervention for the treatment of abnormal blink reflex in children.
