Assessment of Acupuncture on Eye Fatigue

A dual-arm, parallel, randomized single-blind, sham-controlled trial will be conducted. The aim of the study is to assess the effiacy of acupuncutre on eye fatigue. Patients will be recruited from outpatient clinics. Subjects will be assessed at a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) outpatient clinic and then have their accommodation function tested in an optometry room . This will determine if they meet the inclusion criteria.

Those who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group will receive treatment at seven acupuncture points: Fengfu (GV16), bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Yumen (TH2), and Hegu (LI4), using Jiasun 42G 1-inch acupuncture needles. The needles will be inserted perpendicularly to achieve the "De Qi" sensation, with a depth of 0.5 inches, and retained for 25 minutes before removal. The control group will undergo sham acupuncture at the same points using specially designed acupuncture needles from the manufacturer, which give the sensation of needling but retract into the handle without penetrating the skin, thus providing no real stimulation. Both groups will be treated by TCM physician .

After needle removal, visual acuity will be tested again to compare the differences in values between the pre- and post-test measurements of both groups.

Inclusion criteria

• Subjective experience of eye fatigue after using electronic devices at least twice a week.
• Age ≥ 18 years.
• Agreement to sign the informed consent form for this study.

Exclusion criteria

• Accommodation assessment: Interocular accommodation difference greater than 3 diopters (D).
• History of metabolic diseases with accompanying retinal conditions (e.g., diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive/hyperlipidemic patients with macular edema, retinal hemorrhage, glaucoma, etc.).
• Current treatment for ocular inflammation or infection (e.g., conjunctivitis, orbital cellulitis).
• Underwent eye surgery within the last 3 months (including LASIK surgery).
• Received acupuncture treatment for eye-related symptoms in the past month.
• Diagnosed with severe ophthalmic conditions (e.g., optic atrophy) and deemed unsuitable for the trial by an ophthalmologist.
• Diagnosed with anemia, hypotension, or chronic fatigue in the past three months, making them unsuitable for acupuncture due to a tendency to faint.
• Pregnant women.
• Major diseases such as renal insufficiency, cerebrovascular disease, or cancer, deemed unsuitable for clinical research participation by the principal investigator.