Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Dry eye is a common problem in both elderly and the menopausal women. The conventional therapy is topical use of artificial tears, which have limited effectiveness for treating moderate-to-severe dry eye disease.
Objective:
The aim of this report is to demonstrate the incorporation of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of dry eye disease.
Design and Patient:
Two case reports—one concerns a 65-year-old man, and the other concerns a 49-year-old menopausal woman. Both patients had severe dryness and a stinging sensation in their eyes.
Intervention:
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine were used in both cases. The main acupoints used were: ST 2, GB 14, KI 3, and KI 7. Chinese herbal medicine was prescribed individually based on each patient's Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis.
Main Outcome Measures:
The main outcomes sought for these patients were decreases in dryness and in stinging sensation in the eyes, and less use of artificial tears.
Results:
In the elderly male, the stinging sensation was reduced by 60% after1 month and he stopped using artificial tears after 4 months. The woman had great improvement after undergoing a consistent weekly treatment within 2 months.
Conclusions:
Effectiveness of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in dry eye disease may relate to regulating the effects of the hormonal system.
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