Study on the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction-Related Dry Eye with Post-Meibomian Gland Massage and Acupoint敷贴 after Traditional Chinese Medicine Steam Therapy

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-5775.2025.03.014

Abstract：Objective: To explore the effect of post-meibomian gland massage combined with TCM pack acupoint patching after traditional Chinese medicine steam therapy in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction-related dry eye. Methods: Sixty patients with evaporative-type dry eye syndrome treated at the ophthalmology department of the First People's Hospital of Jiujiang City from January 2022 to February 2023 were selected as the study subjects. They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops alone, while the experimental group received 15 minutes of eyelid TCM steam therapy followed by meibomian gland massage and TCM patch application, along with tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops, for a continuous treatment period of 3 weeks. Before and after treatment, tear secretion test (SI), tear film break-up time (BUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and subjective symptoms (dryness, excessive secretions, blurred vision, photophobia, redness, swelling, and itching) were tested, and adverse reactions during the treatment process were recorded. Results: After 3 weeks of treatment, the SI and BUT values of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group, while the CFS score was lower, with statistically significant differences (t=2.851, 9.082, 5.903, P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, the subjective symptom scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (t=7.354, 6.863, 9.312, 5.855, 5.141, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (x2=0.161, P>0.05). Conclusion: The combination of post-meibomian gland massage and TCM pack acupoint patching after traditional Chinese medicine steam therapy shows significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction-related dry eye.