title: Acupuncture treatment in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of acupuncture in patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients (20 women, five men) with KCS were randomly assigned to an acupuncture treatment group or a control group. The effects of acupuncture were evaluated by a questionnaire on symptoms, visual analogue scale recordings, registration of drop frequency, and dry eye tests. Ten acupuncture sessions were given. Follow-up was carried out after 2-3 weeks and again after a mean period of 8 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients receiving acupuncture felt better at the first follow-up compared with the control group (p = 0.036). However, no statistical significance could be found concerning any change, or difference, in the total number of subjective symptoms, dosage frequency or, as indicated by the dry eye tests, tear quality, tear secretion and ocular surface disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that acupuncture has subjective beneficial effects in patients with KCS and could therefore be tried as a complement to ordinary treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Sweden. marita.gronlund@oft.gu.se
authors.forename: Marita Andersson
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grönlund
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stenevi
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lundeberg
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions