Effects of subcutaneous embedding of thumb-tack needle on tear film in patients with dry eye

Objective: To observe the effects of subcutaneous embedding of thumb-tack needle combined with mytear and simple mytear on tear film in patients with dry eye.

Methods: Eighty patients of dry eye (160 eyes) were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drop (alice) was applied in the control group, four times per day for two weeks. On the basis of the control group, the subcutaneous embedding of thumb-tack needle was used at ① Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sizhukong (SJ 23), Sibai (ST 2), ② Yintang (EX-HN 3), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Taiyang (EX-HN 5). The two groups of acupoints were used alternately. The thumb-tack needle was placed for 2 to 3 days, once a week for two weeks. The subjective symptom score, Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠT), tear break-up time (BUT) and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) were compared before treatment, after treatment and during 2-week follow-up visit in the two groups. The effects of the two groups were compared.

Results: Compared before treatment, the subjective symptom score and CFS were reduced but SⅠT and BUT were increased after treatment and during follow-up visit in the two groups (all P<0.05), which in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0% (36/40) in the observation group, which was superior to 85.0% (34/40) in the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: The subcutaneous embedding of thumb-tack needle could increase the amount of SIT, prolong BUT and repair pathological damage of cornea, which could relieve the symptoms of dry eye and improve visual quality.