Trial reportTrials2022
Effectiveness of acupuncture at acupoint BL1 (Jingming) in comparison with artificial tears for moderate to severe dry eye disease: a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Trials, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07185854 (Acupuncture Combined With Artificial Tears Compared With Artificial Tears Alone in Moderate Dry Eye), which is not on this map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Acupuncture Combined With Artificial Tears Compared With Artificial Tears Alone in Moderate Dry Eye: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Acupuncture in the treatment of inflammation-related ocular degenerations: a systematic review.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for vocal nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.PloS one · 2023Pooled it
- Electroacupuncture promotes the repair of lacrimal glands damage in dry-eye animal models by modulating the BDNF/CREB signaling pathway.Journal of traditional and complementary medicine · 2026Article
- Technological Interventions for Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Random-Effects Network Meta-analysis of 3-Month Outcomes.Ophthalmology and therapy · 2026Article
- A Network Meta-Analysis Comparing the Efficacy Differences of Different Acupuncture and Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops in the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.Journal of pain research · 2026Review
- Acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for dry eye: a SPIRIT-guided protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Intradermal Acupuncture for Moderate to Severe Dry Eye Disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Journal of pharmacopuncture · 2025Article
- Mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of dry eye disease: narrative review of experimental studies.International ophthalmology · 2025Review
- Dry Eye Disease Management Via Technological Methods: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Ophthalmology and therapy · 2025Article
- Vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment secondary to acupoint BL1 acupuncture.Eye (London, England) · 2025Article
- A Review of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Clinical Implications.International journal of general medicine · 2025Review
- From tradition to healing: the promise of acupuncture in managing chronic fatigue syndrome.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
- Case Report: Improvement of functional dyspepsia using eight constitution acupuncture and eight constitution diet - A report of three cases.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe global incidence of dry eye disease (DED) is very high. DED seriously affects the quality of life of patients; however, the current curative effect of medicine for moderate to severe DED is poor. This randomized clinical trial was planned to investigate the effect of acupuncture compared with artificial tears (AT) on moderate to severe DED.
methodsA randomized clinical trial was performed at 2 hospitals in China. 120 DED patients were randomly equally divided into an acupuncture and an artificial tear group. Either acupuncture or artificial tears was performed for an 8-week period, and a 24-week follow-up was performed. The primary outcome measure was the Schirmer-I test (SIT) change from baseline. The secondary outcome measures included the numerical rating scale (NRS) change from baseline for improvement in ocular symptoms, the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), the tear-film break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and acupuncture acceptability. Adverse events also were monitored and documented.
resultsFor the primary outcome, the mean changes from baseline in the SIT values were significantly different between the acupuncture (5.75 [2.53-9.75]) and AT (0.52 [- 1.18-2.46]) groups at week 8 with a between difference of 5.23 (P < 0.05). Between-group differences of 8.49 in OSDI score change from baseline differed significantly at week 8 (P < 0.05). However, between-group differences of the changes in the average symptom NRS score, TBUT, and CFS did not differ significantly at week 8. Five cases experienced acupuncture-related adverse events.
conclusionsThis randomized clinical trial found that acupuncture at BL1 significantly promoted tear secretion. Acupuncture showed greater benefits than AT for moderate to severe DED. However, the study findings warrant verification.
trial registrationRegistration number: ChiCTR1800015831. Name of trial registry: Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye disease: a randomized controlled trial. Registered on 23 April 2018 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ).
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.