ESCRS - POCOR483 - Adjunctive Acupuncture For Sjögren-Related Dry Eye: A Prospective Sham-Controlled Study

Adjunctive Acupuncture For Sjögren-Related Dry Eye: A Prospective Sham-Controlled Study

Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: POCOR483 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/nw1x-9d90

Authors: Emine Esra Karaca* 1 , Dr Zeynep Ömerbeyoğlu 1 , Prof. Dr Özlem Evren Kemer 1 , Dr Gülşah Yurtseven 2 , Prof. Dr Ahmet Omma 3 , Dr Sevgi Ayhan 3 , A/Prof. Özlem Doğan 4

1Ophthalmology,University of Health Sciences Ankara Bilkent City Hospital,Ankara,Türkiye, 2Traditional and Complementary Medicine ,Ankara Bilkent City Hospital,Ankara,Türkiye, 3Rheumatology,University of Health Sciences Ankara Bilkent City Hospital,Ankara,Türkiye, 4Biochemistry,Ankara University Medical School,Ankara,Türkiye

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of adjunctive acupuncture on subjective symptoms and objective ocular surface parameters in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome–related mild to moderate dry eye disease.

Setting

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital

Methods

This prospective, randomized, sham-controlled study included 24 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome, presenting with mild to moderate dry eye disease. Participants were randomized to true acupuncture (n = 18) or sham acupuncture (n = 6). Standardized auricular and body acupuncture points were applied in the treatment group, while sham needling was performed at non-meridian points to maintain masking. Concomitant dry eye therapy was kept stable throughout the study. Assessments at baseline and post-treatment included tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, Oxford staining score, non-invasive TBUT (NIBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus length (TML), meibography, meibum expressibility, OSDI, and VFQ-25. 

Results

Mean age was 50.5 ± 9.5 years. In the acupuncture group, significant improvements were observed in TBUT (6.28 ± 2.11 to 8.06 ± 2.44 seconds; p = 0.048), Oxford staining score (1.28 ± 0.57 to 0.67 ± 0.59; p = 0.001), and meibography score (2.06 ± 1.11 to 1.67 ± 1.08; p = 0.004). OSDI decreased significantly from 42.32 ± 26.58 to 31.85 ± 25.25 (p = 0.023). VFQ-25 increased from 76.21 ± 16.72 to 81.13 ± 15.64 (p = 0.051). NIBUT increased from 16.56 ± 24.91 to 35.72 ± 33.18 seconds (p = 0.087). Schirmer test and tear meniscus parameters did not demonstrate statistically significant changes. No significant improvements were observed in the sham group. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions

Adjunctive acupuncture was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in tear stability, ocular surface integrity, and patient-reported outcomes in Sjögren-related mild to moderate dry eye. These findings suggest a potential role for acupuncture as a safe complementary therapeutic approach and support further investigation in larger randomized controlled trials.