CompletedNot Applicable

Electroacupuncture for Mild-to-moderate Dry Eye

China168 participantsStarted 2023-12-12

Plain-language summary

To determine if electroacupuncture acts as an dry eye treatment rather than a placebo, and identify if benefits are linked to corneal subbasal nerve changes and neuroimmunomodulatory indicators.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for dry eye according to the TFOS DEWS Ⅱ * Ages 18-65 years, no gender limit Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with severe dry eye * Combined with other eye diseases (e.g. severe blepharitis, blepharospasm, conjunctival laxity, strabismus, amblyopia, glaucoma, cataract, fundus disease, ocular trauma) * With active eye diseases or a history of eye surgery within 3 months * Received acupuncture treatment or other dry eye treatment measures within 1 month that may influence the assessment of efficacy * Previously experienced electroacupuncture intervention * Pregnant or breastfeeding females * Serious systemic diseases such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, hepatic, renal, and hematopoietic system and psychiatric disorders * With autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or ankylosing spondylitis * With damaged, ulcerated, infected, or scarred skin at the selected acupoints * Allergic to metal or tape

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change from Baseline in Noninvasive Tear Breakup Time (NIBUT)

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 16, Week 28

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05552820

SponsorShanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-10-18

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Dry Eye trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.