title: Electrical stimulation of auricular acupressure for dry eye: A randomized controlled-clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of electrical stimulation (ES) of auricular acupressure on reducing the ocular symptoms and signs before and after treatment for dry eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inclusion criteria were the tear film break-up time (TFBUT) below 5 s and a Schirmer test-I below 5 mm in dry eyes with ocular symptoms for at least 6 months. Subjects were randomized into a treatment group (50 cases) with continuous low frequency ES under auricular acupressure at acupoints and a no ES under auricular acupressure (no-ES, control group, 50 cases) on the same acupoints. Auricular acupressure were stimulated with ES at 4 master points of both ears, which were performed twice a week for 4 weeks at each point for 30 s. The ocular symptoms, the TFBUT, and Schirmer test-I were evaluated before and after this procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significantly better scores in TFBUT (P=0.032), the Schirmer test-I (P=0.044) and ocular symptoms (P=0.029) at 3 months post-treatment in the treatment group than in the control group. The total effective rate in the treatment group was accomplished in 41 (82%) of the 50 cases of dry eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Auricular acupressure with ES at auricular acupoint improves ocular symptoms and signs of dry eye for a period of at least 3 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan, 602-739, Republic of Korea. jongsool@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Jung's Eye Center, Pusan, 616-849, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Cheul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, 51472, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D004423:Ear / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures
keywords: auricular acupressure; dry eye syndromes; electrical stimulation; tears