Observation of the Clinical Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Eye Patching Combined with Acupuncture for the Treatment of Amblyopia in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Amblyopia is an eye disease related to visual development. If it is not treated properly or in a timely manner, it will have a serious impact on the patient's vision and quality of life. This study observed the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) eye patching combined with acupuncture for the treatment of amblyopia in children and adolescents. Methods: Patients aged 5 to 8 years (including 5 and 8 years old) with anisometropic amblyopia who visited the Ophthalmology Department of Jinzhong City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from 2018 to 2025 were selected. These patients were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group, with 20 cases in each group using random number table methods. Both groups used the conventional correction-based occlusion method, while the experimental group additionally employed TCM eye patching combined with acupuncture therapy (local acupoints: Sibai, Taiyang, Zanzhu, Yintang, and Sizhukong; distal acupoints: Hegu, Neiguan, and Zusanli). The acupuncture therapy was performed once daily, with the needles retained for 30 min, based on the balanced reinforcing and reducing principle. The treatment course was 10 days, with vision and refraction rechecked weekly, for a total of three courses. After the experiment, the indicators and therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared. Results: Prior to the experiment, there was no significant difference in age and gender between the experimental and control groups (p > 0.05). After the treatment course, in the experimental group, 2 patients’ eyes were cured, 14 patients’ eyes were improved, and 4 patients’ eyes showed no changes, with a total effective rate of 80%, while in the control group, 8 patients’ eyes were improved, 12 patients’ eyes showed no changes, and 0 patient’s eyes were cured, with a total effective rate of 40%. The therapeutic effect of the experimental group was superior to that of the control group (p < 0.05). After treatment, the best corrected visual acuity of the two groups was significantly higher than that before treatment, and that of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Both the experimental and control groups showed some improvement in vision after treatment. Acupuncture around the eyes combined with TCM external application can effectively improve the corrected visual acuity of children with anisometropic amblyopia.