[Observation on the clinical effect of He's fire needle therapy combined with walnut-shell moxibustion on perimenopausal dry eye disease].

OBJECTIVES

To observe the clinical effect on perimenopausal dry eye disease treated with He's fire needle therapy combined with walnut-shell moxibustion.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with perimenopausal dry eye disease were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). In the observation group, the pricking technique with fire needle was operated at bilateral Naokong (GB19), Feishu (BL13), Xinshu (BL15), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), 3 times a week, for 4 weeks, and the walnut-shell moxibustion was combined, 30 minutes each time, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. In the control group, hyaluronic acid sodium eye drops were used, one drop each time, 3 times a day, for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of the questionnaire for dry eye disease in China, the result of lacrimal secretion test (Schimer Ⅰ test, SⅠT) and tear film break-up time(BUT), as well as the modified Kupperman score were evaluated in the two groups. The clinical effect was compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of treatment, the results of SⅠT and BUT increased (P<0.001), while the scores of the questionnaire for dry eye disease in China, the modified Kupperman score decreased (P<0.001) in the two groups when compared with the baseline. In the observation group, the result of SⅠT and BUT were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), while the scores of the questionnaire for dry eye disease in China, and the modified Kupperman score was lower (P<0.05). The marked effective rate (30/60, 50.0%) in the observation group was better than that (10/60, 16.7%) of the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In treatment of perimenopausal dry eye disease, the combined therapy of fire needling and walnut-shell moxibustion obtains the superior effect to hyaluronic acid sodium eye drops. This combined therapy can effectively relieve the eye symptoms, increase the secretion of tears, prolong BUT, and ameliorate systemic symptoms.