Category: Eyes

Researchers at Aston University School of Optometry have called for more advice to be given to young people about preventing dry eye disease. A study carried out in conjunction with Norwegian partners Oslo University Hospital and Sørlandet Hospital Trust, found that 90% of participants already had at least one sign of the condition.

Dry eye disease occurs when the eyes do not make enough tears, or make poor-quality tears without sufficient oil levels. This leads to poor tear film stability and evaporation. Sufferers may have gritty sensations, itching or stinging, redness, sensitivity to light and blurry vision. There are several risk factors for dry eye disease, including stress and wearing contact lenses. It is also more prevalent in females. In the 18-25 age group, a major risk factor though is screen use.

The team followed fifty 18 to 25 year olds, assessing them at the outset and following them up after one year. Initially, 56% were assessed to have dry eye disease. Around half the participants had lost up to 25% of their meibomian (oil-producing) glands. After 12 months, the researchers observed significant disease progression. A correlation was noticed between dry eye symptoms and the number of hours per day of screen use; the mean for the study cohort was 8 hours per day.

The researchers conclude that dry eye disease and its progression in the young adults in their study shows the need for early detection of potential signs, and the identification of those who may go on to develop dry eye disease. These individuals can then be advised on managing the condition.

(A prospective, longitudinal study to assess progression of ocular surface signs, tear cytokines and protein profiles in young adults. ScienceDirect, July 2025.)

There is growing interest by researchers worldwide in acupuncture for the eyes. Eye conditions are routinely treated with acupuncture in Chinese hospitals. Discussions on eye diseases and acupuncture treatment are to be found in early Chinese medical texts, particularly in the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).

Do take your eye health seriously. Our eyes are more challenged in the modern world, by things like long hours of screen use, or air conditioning in the workplace. See an optician for an eye examination at least every two years, even if you don’t wear glasses. It sometimes detects other underlying health problems.

Eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, so that you have some protection from free radicals and oxidants which it is thought may contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration. Try to get plenty of vitamins A, C, & E, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, plus lutein and zeaxanthin. Useful foods would be kale, red or orange peppers, spinach, lettuce, leek, broccoli, peas, sweetcorn, parsley, salmon and eggs. Lutein may also confer protection against the effects of light at the blue end of the spectrum, encountered through long hours looking at a screen every day.

On the subject of screen time, try to reduce it. When you are on screen, increase your blinking to help lubricate the eyes, and regularly look into the distance eg out of a window,  to allow them to relax. Take regular exercise, and move around during the working day to promote circulation to this highly vascular tissue.

With some conditions such as dry eye, recurrent conjunctivitis and blepharitis, there is much useful lifestyle and self-care advice that I can suggest to you. It is important that you follow these recommendations if acupuncture is to provide relief.

Below you can read the results of some of the research which has been undertaken into acupuncture for the eyes. You will not find research on every possible eye complaint, so do not be disappointed if yours is not there. You are always welcome to give me a call and discuss things.

The trials vary in quality, but systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials are generally considered to provide the highest quality evidence. If you would like to read more about evidence quality, I would refer you to the British Acupuncture Council’s description of the evidence pyramid.

“Can acupuncture help dry eyes?” was the question posed by researchers in Korea, who undertook a systematic review involving 21 randomised controlled trials, and 1542 eyes. Compared with artificial tears, acupuncture was more effective by several different measures. Further analysis of the data suggests acupuncture is optimally given two to three times per week for 21 to 30 days.

(Therapeutic effects of acupuncture in typical dry eye: a systematic review & meta-analysis. Acta Ophthalmologica 29 October 2020.)

South Korean researchers have shown that acupuncture helps post-surgical dry eye syndrome, when used alongside usual care. A total of 18 patients with dry eye syndrome occurring after refractive surgery, received either acupuncture plus usual care, or usual care alone. Acupuncture was given three times per week for a total of 12 treatments.

In the acupuncture group, ocular surface disease index scores tended to decrease, while those in the usual care group increased. After four weeks, there was a significant difference between the two groups, in favour of acupuncture. The team concludes that four weeks of acupuncture treatment in addition to usual care, is a feasible treatment for dry eye syndrome after refractive surgery. A full-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm clinical effectiveness.

(Acupuncture for dry eye syndrome after refractive surgery: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Integrative Medicine Research, March 2021.)

A research team in Taiwan studying acupuncture for glaucoma, has shown that it can be used to lower intraocular pressure. In their randomised, three-arm trial, 45 glaucoma patients were randomised to receive either acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or electroacupuncture twice a week for two weeks.

The reduction in intraocular pressure from immediately before treatment to one hour after treatment, was significantly greater in the acupuncture and electroacupuncture groups, compared with the sham group. This held true for all four treatment sessions and in both eyes.

(Effect of Acupuncture on Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma Patients: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 28 April 2020.)