East meets West in eye care
EYES and acupuncture have not gone together… until now.
In a one- of- a-kind study, Western medicine was combined with traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM) to treat dry eyes.
A total of 150 patients aged between 40 and 85 years old with dry eyes were involved in the study, which was conducted by the Singapore Eye Research Institute ( SERI) and the Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (SCHMI).
All participants were given artificial tears. Some additionally got acupuncture and others oral herbal medication.
The SERI researchers used high-tech equipment to measure progress, specifically the effect on the conjunctiva, cornea and tear functions/components. They found those treated with acupuncture and eye drops showed the most improvement, such as reduced eye redness and inflammation. Participants also found the acupuncture relatively pain-free.
Principal investigator, Associate Professor Louis Tong, Senior Ophthalmologist & Principal Clinician Scientist, Singapore National Eye Centre ( SNEC) and SERI, said: “Dry eye is very much a condition that stems from modern living. We hope this partnership has illustrated the importance of cross-institutional efforts in bringing about high-impact research.”
The study’s Principal Collaborator and Chief Physician, Dr Pat Lim, TCM Ophthalmologist & Board Vice Chairman, SCHMI, agreed.
“TCM ophthalmology has been established more than 1,000 years ago and we believe, by integrating the strengths of Western and traditional Chinese medicine, we can develop the ultimate solution for serving our eye patients in the near future.”
Dry eyes are common in middle- aged people and are prevalent among Asians. The condition occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or if tears become unstable or evaporate too quickly. These in turn cause redness and irritation, and eyes tend to be tired easily.
Dry eyes can be caused or aggravated by certain medical conditions, ageing, prolonged exposure to digital screens, pollution, poor diet, sleeping habits, and even the use of contact lenses.
This story was first published in Singapore Health, Sep - Oct 2018 issue.