Effect of Eye-Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Myopia Incidence in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
| Title: | Effect of Eye-Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Myopia Incidence in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. |
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| Authors: | Jiang W; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Therapy of Ocular Diseases, Shandong Academy of Eye Disease Prevention and Therapy, Shandong, China; Ophthalmology and Optometry Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Chinese Medicine Traditional, Shandong, China.; Hu Y; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Ai Y; Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.; Cheng CY; Department of Ophthalmology and Centre for Innovation and Precision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Republic of Singapore; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program (EYE ACP), Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.; Xu F; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; He L; Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.; Song J; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; Ophthalmology and Optometry Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Qu Y; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Therapy of Ocular Diseases, Shandong Academy of Eye Disease Prevention and Therapy, Shandong, China.; Xu X; Department of Clinical Research, Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center, Shanghai Eye Hospital, Shanghai Vision Health Center and Shanghai Children Myopia Institute, Shanghai, China.; Qu J; National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital, Wenzhou, China.; Liao X; Department of Ophthalmology of Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, NSMC, Sichuan, China.; Diao M; First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Chinese Medicine Traditional, Shandong, China.; Lu T; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Zhang M; Hebei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Hebei Eye Hospital, Hebei, China.; Han L; Hebei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Hebei Eye Hospital, Hebei, China.; Chen X; The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Hunan, China.; Yan J; The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Hunan, China.; Shi W; Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.; Guo R; Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.; Yang Y; Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.; Yang C; Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.; Zhao H; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Wu J; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; Ophthalmology and Optometry Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Guo D; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Therapy of Ocular Diseases, Shandong Academy of Eye Disease Prevention and Therapy, Shandong, China.; Sun W; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Sun Z; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China.; Wang G; Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.; Liu B; Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.; He M; School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.; Bi H; Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Therapy of Ocular Diseases, Shandong Academy of Eye Disease Prevention and Therapy, Shandong, China; Ophthalmology and Optometry Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China; First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Chinese Medicine Traditional, Shandong, China. Electronic address: hongshengbi@126.com. |
| Source: | Ophthalmology [Ophthalmology] 2026 May; Vol. 133 (5), pp. 668-679. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 12. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Multicenter Study |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7802443 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1549-4713 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01616420 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ophthalmology Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2000- : New York : Elsevier; Original Publication: Rochester, Minn., American Academy of Ophthalmology. |
| MeSH Terms: | Myopia*/epidemiology ; Myopia*/physiopathology ; Myopia*/therapy ; Refraction, Ocular*/physiology ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*/methods ; Acupuncture Points*; Visual Acuity/physiology ; China/epidemiology ; Humans ; Child ; Female ; Double-Blind Method ; Male ; Incidence ; Follow-Up Studies |
| Abstract: | Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of eye-transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (ETEAS) in reducing myopia incidence in children with premyopia.; Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier, ChiCTR2000039781).; Participants: A total of 680 participants, 6 to 12 years of age with a cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of between +0.75 and -0.50 diopter (D), astigmatism of 1.50 D or less, and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 0.0 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution or less, were enrolled from February 2021 through December 2021. Follow-up was completed in December 2022.; Methods: Participants were assigned randomly (1:1) to receive ETEAS (n = 340) or sham ETEAS (n = 340). Treatments were self-administered under parental supervision at least 3 times weekly (30 minutes per session) for 24 weeks, followed by a 24-week nonintervention observation period. Eye-transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was delivered using personalized, 3-dimensional customized masks to ensure accurate acupoint placement across sessions. Compliance was tracked through an online management system.; Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was the 48-week myopia incidence rate (defined as cycloplegic SER ≤ -0.50 D). Secondary outcomes included the 24-week myopia incidence rate and changes in cycloplegic SER and axial length (AL) from baseline to 24 and 48 weeks.; Results: A total of 668 children (98.2%) were included in the primary outcome analysis (332 in the ETEAS group and 336 in the sham ETEAS group). The 48-week myopia incidence was significantly lower in the ETEAS group (29.0% [97/332]) compared with the sham ETEAS group (38.1% [128/336]), with an absolute difference of 9.1% (95% confidence interval, 1.6%-16.6%; P = 0.0180). Additionally, ETEAS significantly slowed myopia progression, as evidenced by less cycloplegic SER progression (-0.47 D vs -0.75 D; P < 0.0001), less AL elongation (0.21 mm vs 0.36 mm; P < 0.0001), and significant improvement in 10 of 15 secondary outcomes. No treatment-related adverse events were reported.; Conclusions: Eye-transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation is a noninvasive intervention that effectively reduces myopia incidence and slows myopia progression in children with premyopia, with standardized and reproducible delivery.; Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.; (Copyright © 2026 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Children; Myopia; Premyopia; Randomized clinical trial; Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation |
| Molecular Sequence: | ChiCTR ChiCTR2000039781 |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260114 Date Completed: 20260422 Latest Revision: 20260626 |
| Update Code: | 20260626 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ophtha.2026.01.003 |
| PMID: | 41534799 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Multicenter Study