OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of auricular point sticking therapy for abnormal blink in children and the impact on the breakup time of tear film.

METHODSA total of 123 cases (246 eyes) with abnormal blink were randomly assigned into two groups, 62 cases (124 eyes) to an observation group, 61 cases (122 eyes) to a control group. The observation group received auricular point sticking therapy with western medicine; the treatment was given 6 d per week; the next day received no treatment and changed dressing. The auricular points were yan (LO), pingjianqian (TG), pingjianhou (AT), gan (CO), pi (CO), wei (CO). The western medicine pateints took 1 oral multivitamins tablets per day, and received sodium hyaluronate eye drops and tobramycin eye drops in turn, 3 times per day, 7 day as a course; treatment was lasting 3 courses. Patients in the control group only received western medicine. The blink frequency score and breakup time of tear film of children were observed, the curative effect of the two groups was compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the blink frequency score was lower significantly (<0.01), and lower significantly in subjects in the observation group compared to those in the control group (<0.01). After treatment, less than 10 s were 51 eyes (41.8%) and greater than 10 s (including 10 s) were 71 eyes (58.2%) in the 122 eyes from the control group; in the observation group, less than 10 s were 13 eyes (10.5%) and greater than 10 s (including 10 s) were 111 eyes (89.5%); there was significant difference between the two groups (<0.01). The effective rate of the observation group was 91.9% (114/124), which was higher than the control group 65.6% (80/122); the difference was statistically significant (<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of auricular point sticking therapy combine western medicine is better in treating children with abnormal blink compared to western medicine by reducing the breakup time of tear film. This suggests that reduction of tear film stability is one of the main reasons which causes frequent eye blink, and breakup time of tear film can be used as the testing standard.