A Randomized Controlled Trial of Auricular Acupressure Combined with Sodium Hyaluronate for Abnormal Blink Reflex in Children.

Abnormal blink reflex in children is a common ocular symptom with complex causes, including ocular surface diseases like dry eye and inflammation, as well as neuromuscular dysfunction. Current treatments show limited efficacy, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic options. This study evaluates the clinical efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure combined with sodium hyaluronate eye drops. A randomized controlled design included 97 children aged 3-10 years with abnormal blink reflex. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group (Group A, n = 32), treated with sodium hyaluronate eye drops; the experimental group (Group B, n = 33), receiving eye drops combined with auricular acupressure using Vaccaria seed patches; and the sham stimulation group (Group C, n = 32), receiving ear patches without Vaccaria seed. The treatment lasted for three cycles. The primary outcome was the blink rate, and secondary outcomes included tear film break-up time (FBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (FL) score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for ocular dryness and photophobia, clinical efficacy, and adverse events. Compared with Groups A and C, Group B showed a significant reduction in blink rate (P<0.05), a significant increase in FBUT (P<0.05), a notable decrease in FL score (P<0.05), and a significant reduction in VAS scores for ocular dryness and photophobia (P<0.05). No statistical differences in clinical symptoms and signs were observed between Groups A and C (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 78.13% for Group A, 93.94% for Group B, and 84.38% for Group C, with Group B showing significantly higher efficacy. No serious adverse events were observed in any group. Auricular acupressure with Vaccaria seed improves the clinical symptoms of abnormal blink reflex in children, enhances tear film stability, and provides corneal protection. It is a safe and effective new intervention for the treatment of abnormal blink reflex in children.