To systematically integrate clinical evidence on acupuncture and moxibustion treatments for dry eye disease, aiming to provide reliable evidence-based support for clinical management.
Approach:
Key Findings:
319 studies included, with liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome being the most common TCM syndrome (54.55%).
Identified 17 types of monotherapy and 31 types of combination therapy.
Outcome indicators were classified into 13 categories, with ocular surface health assessment, TCM symptom scores, and clinical efficacy being the most frequent.
Interpretation:
Acupuncture and moxibustion demonstrate potential benefits for dry eye disease, but existing RCTs exhibit low methodological quality, necessitating improvements.
Limitations:
Low methodological quality of included studies.
Need for standardized TCM syndrome differentiation and outcome indicators.
Low-quality studies may affect the reliability of findings.
Conclusion:
While acupuncture and moxibustion show promise in treating dry eye disease, improvements in RCT design and adherence to randomization are necessary for stronger evidence.
