Laser Acupuncture for Dry Eye Disease Due to Visual Display Terminal Use

March 18, 2025 updated by: Inria Chandra, Indonesia University

The Effect of Laser Acupuncture on the Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease Due to Visual Display Terminal Use

The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine whether laser acupuncture can alleviate dry eye symptoms caused by visual display terminal use and to assess the safety of laser acupuncture. The research questions to be addressed are:

  • Can laser acupuncture and artificial tears reduce the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) score, Ocular Surface Staining (OSS) score, and Schirmer Test score?
  • Are there any side effects associated with laser acupuncture therapy?

The researchers will compare laser acupuncture and artificial tears with sham laser acupuncture (a procedure using the same device but without activating the laser, so no energy is emitted) to assess whether laser acupuncture and artificial tears can effectively treat dry eye associated with visual display terminal use.

Participants will:

  • Receive either laser acupuncture therapy or sham laser acupuncture therapy for 6 sessions, twice a week, over a 3-week period.
  • Use artificial tears daily, 4 times per day (morning, afternoon, evening, and night), with one drop per eye for both eyes, over a 4-week period.
  • Attend follow-up visits at the eye clinic at baseline (before therapy), in week 2, and in week 4.
  • Record any side effects observed after each session of laser acupuncture therapy.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

  • Dry eye disease is an ocular condition characterized by common symptoms such as eye irritation, a sensation of grittiness, foreign body sensation, stickiness, itchiness, eye fatigue, redness, stabbing or burning sensations, increased blinking frequency, and symptom exacerbation in the afternoon or evening.
  • Visual Display Terminal (VDT) refers to devices equipped with a screen for displaying graphics or digital content for specific tasks, commonly known as gadgets. Examples of VDTs include computers, laptops, televisions, and mobile phones.
  • The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions designed to assess symptoms of dry eye, visual function, and environmental factors that may trigger dry eye.
  • The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a scoring tool to measure the intensity of discomfort associated with dry eye, using a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates "no pain/discomfort" and 100 indicates "the most severe pain/discomfort."
  • Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) is an examination used to assess how long the tear film remains on the ocular surface after blinking, as a measure for diagnosing dry eye. This test is conducted by an ophthalmologist.
  • Ocular Surface Staining (OSS) is an examination in which dye is applied to the ocular surface to detect abnormalities on the eye's surface. This test is also performed by an ophthalmologist.
  • The Schirmer test is a quantitative test used to measure tear volume over a period of 5 minutes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

45

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • DKI Jakarta
      • Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia, 10430
        • Universitas Indonesia

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men or women aged 18 - 59 years with dry eye complaints
  • Diagnosed with DED by an Ophthalmologist with the criteria OSDI value ≥ 13, and TBUT value < 10 seconds
  • Using VDT for at least 4 hours a day
  • Not currently receiving other DED therapy other than CMC artificial tears
  • Willing to participate in the study until completion and sign the informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute infection or trauma to the eye and periorbita
  • Eyelid abnormalities or facial paresis that prevent the eye from closing
  • History of intraocular or extraocular surgery within the last 12 months
  • Previously diagnosed with Steven Johnson Syndrome, Sjogren Syndrome, or diabetes mellitus
  • Undergoing chemotherapy or post-chemotherapy
  • Pregnant and lactating women
  • Menopausal women or those receiving hormone therapy
  • History of uncontrolled seizures or epilepsy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group
The laser acupuncture and artificial tears therapy

Laser acupuncture therapy is the application of a Reimers & Janssen LaserPen, with a power of 150mW and a wavelength of 810nm, alternating between Nogier frequencies A and C. The dosage is 2 joules per point, with a therapy duration of 26 seconds per point, targeting bilateral acupuncture points BL2, TE23, ST2, LI4, and ST36. The LaserPen is applied without pressing the laser probe onto the body surface.

Artificial tears containing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) will be used. The frequency of application is four times daily (morning, afternoon, evening, and night), with one drop per eye, administered to both eyes. Artificial tears will be used throughout the study duration (4 weeks). Use of any artificial tears other than CMC will be discontinued for 3 days and resumed on day 4 with CMC.

Sham Comparator: Control Group
The sham laser acupuncture and artificial tears therapy

Laser acupuncture therapy is a procedure using the same device but without activating the laser, so no energy is emitted. Performed at the same points as laser acupuncture therapy.

Artificial tears containing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) will be used. The frequency of application is four times daily (morning, afternoon, evening, and night), with one drop per eye, administered to both eyes. Artificial tears will be used throughout the study duration (4 weeks). Use of any artificial tears other than CMC will be discontinued for 3 days and resumed on day 4 with CMC.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Ocular Surface Disease Index
Time Frame: Before therapy, week 2, week 4
The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions designed to assess symptoms of dry eye, visual function, and environmental factors that may trigger dry eye.
Before therapy, week 2, week 4
The Tear Break-up Time
Time Frame: Before therapy, week 2, week 4
Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) is an examination used to assess how long the tear film remains on the ocular surface after blinking, as a measure for diagnosing dry eye. This test is conducted by an ophthalmologist.
Before therapy, week 2, week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Ocular Surface Staining Score
Time Frame: Before therapy, week 2, week 4
Ocular Surface Staining (OSS) score is a scoring of examination in which dye is applied to the ocular surface to detect abnormalities on the eye's surface.
Before therapy, week 2, week 4
The Schirmer Score
Time Frame: Before therapy, week 2, week 4
The Schirmer score is an accumulation of tear volume over a period of 5 minutes.
Before therapy, week 2, week 4
The Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: Before therapy, week 2, week 4
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a scoring tool to measure the intensity of discomfort associated with dry eye, using a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates "no pain/discomfort" and 100 indicates "the most severe pain/discomfort."
Before therapy, week 2, week 4
Adverse Event
Time Frame: Up to week 4
Symptoms reported by patients after receiving laser acupuncture therapy.
Up to week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: KPEK FKUI-RSCM, The Health Research Ethics Commitee ofFaculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia - RSCM

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 27, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 14, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

March 14, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 12, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 12, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

November 14, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 18, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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