• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

Background: Many patients with glaucoma have difficulty using antiglaucoma eye drops because of dry eye symptom. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we evaluated the effect of Korean Red Ginseng on dry eye syndrome in patients with glaucoma treated with antiglaucoma eye drops. Methods: Forty-nine participants were allocated to the Korean Red Ginseng (3 g/day; n = 24) or placebo (n = 25) groups for 8 weeks. Tear film stability, fluorescein corneal staining, conjunctival hyperemia, tear production, grade of meibomian gland dysfunction, and dry eye questionnaire (Ocular Surface Disease Index) were evaluated at baseline and on completion of the treatment. Results: Almost all patients displayed dry eye symptoms and signs at baseline. After the 8-week intervention, Korean Red Ginseng supplementation significantly improved the tear film stability and total Ocular Surface Disease Index score, as compared to placebo (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Korean Red Ginseng supplementation may provide an additional treatment option for dry eye and patients with glaucoma using antiglaucoma eye drops.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between ocular and allergy symptoms in children by environmental pollutants emitted from new constructed building. Methods: Two different types of survey (6-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire and Ocular Surface Disease Index) were used to study dry eye syndromes and ocular subjective symptoms for a six-grade of elementary school students (54 males and 61 females) in newly built buildings in the past three month, located near capital city, Seoul. Atopy and medical history of allergic rhinitis were investigated with using questionnaire for allergy, and also nose itchiness and ocular symptoms were checked as visual analog scale(10-score) with using questionnaire of allergy rhinitis and conjunctivitis under the guideline of ARIA(Allergic Rhinitis Impacts on Asthma). Results: Fifty seven students (50%) from DEQ and 19 students (16.52%) from OSDI were diagnosed as dry eye, and 18 students (15.79%) were diagnosed as dry eye from both questionnaires. It was surveyed that 45 students (39.5%) and 29 students (25.4%) had atopy and allergy rhinitis, respectively. Among 45 students having atopy, 30 students and 8 students were diagnosed as dry eye with using DEQ and OSDI, respectively. And also, 22 students were diagnosed as dry eye by DEQ and 5 students were diagnosed as dry eye by OSDI from 29 students having allergy rhinitis. Among 29 students having both medical history atopy and allergy rhinitis, 15 students detected observable ocular symptom. The complicating allergy symptoms with ocular syndrome were arranged with sneeze, nose itchiness, nose stuffiness, and runny nose in order of frequency. As students recognized eye symptoms, the number of allergy found and student's number were increased proportionally. Conclusions: It was found that children's subjective ocular symptoms were confirmed in the environment as newly built building. The number of student for dry eye was proportionally increased to students having atopy and allergy symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between worker's ophthalmoxerosis symptom and IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) variation after planting indoor plants at newly-built office building. Methods: We selected a new office building located in Sejong-si and occupants who work in the Office for study. The indoor air pollutant was investigated according to applying indoor plants. The indoor air quality of the new building was evaluated by measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aldehydes, temperature and humidity. The level of dry eye symptoms was classified into normal, mild, moderate and severe by using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results: There was VOCs' reduction effect according to placing indoor plants because the concentration of VOCs in newly-built government office (Sejong-si) was highly decreased when the indoor plants was placed at the office. The occupants' SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) symptoms score was gradually decreased in accordance with applying indoor plants. However, SBS symptoms score was increased when the office was not applied indoor plants. There was not statistical significance in workers' dry eye questionnaire results. Conclusions: There was reduction effect of indoor air pollutant in applied indoor plants office. Also, in case of questionnaire results of ophthalmoxerosis and SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) symptoms score were showed positive effect. This study is needed longer-term study because of complements of difference of individual sensitivity and there are some limitations due to field survey research.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1103-1107
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effect of intense regulated pulse light (IRPL) and changes in tear film thickness in dry eye patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients with Meibomian gland dysfunction who had subjective dry eye discomfort and whose tear film break-up time (TBUT) was < 10 seconds. All patients were treated with IRPL three times on days 1, 15, and 45. TBUT, Schirmer 1 test results, cornea staining score with fluorescein, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and lipid layer thickness were measured and compared before and after the procedure. Results: TBUT was significantly increased from $3.7{\pm}1.2s$ to $4.4{\pm}2.1s$ after IRPL (p = 0.03). Schirmer 1 test and cornea staining scores changed significantly (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). OSDI also showed a statistically significant improvement from $39.5{\pm}17.5points$ to $30.4{\pm}18.7points$ (p = 0.01). However, no significant difference in lipid layer thickness was observed (p = 0.49). Conclusions: IRPL is an effective treatment modality to improve TBUT, Schirmer 1 test scores, cornea staining scores, and subjective dry eye symptoms.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.369-376
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• 2017

Objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is an increasingly important public health problem in Korea. Previous studies conducted in Korea have reported inconsistent results regarding the protective effects of vitamin D on DED, and these discrepancies may be related to the relatively simple questionnaire that has been used. Thus, we evaluated the association of serum vitamin D levels with DED using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI). Methods: The present study evaluated data from participants in the Study Group for Environmental Eye Disease (2014-2015). This group included data from 752 participants, and data from 740 participants (253 men and 487 women) were analyzed in the present study. DED severity was evaluated using the OSDI. Results: Higher serum vitamin D levels were associated with a non-significantly reduced risk of DED in the crude analysis (odds ratio [OR], 0.991; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.971 to 1.011) and in the adjusted analysis (OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.966 to 1.010). In the crude analysis of no/mild DED vs. moderate/severe DED, men exhibited a decreased risk with increasing serum vitamin D levels (OR, 0.999; 95% CI, 0.950 to 1.051), while women exhibited an increased risk (OR, 1.003; 95% CI, 0.979 to 1.027). In these analyses, we found no significant associations. Conclusions: The findings of the present study support previous reports that serum vitamin D levels are not associated with DED.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.48-61
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the ordinary symptoms, special symptoms and Body Mass Index (BMI) according to Sasang constitution in female college students. Also, we aimed to analyze the factors affecting BMI. Methods Forty-four female college students participated in this study. Sasang Constitution was determined by Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification (QSCC) II. BMI was measured and ordinary symptoms were acqired through the questionnaire. Special symptoms was determined by Fatigue Severity Index (FSS), Premenstrual Symptom Screening Tool (PSST), ROME III, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), respectively. For statistical analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and correlation test has been used. Results There existed significant differences in ordinary symptoms and special symptoms between sasang constitutions. Taeumin had higher urine frequency than soyangin, soeumin had higher gap of feces than taeumin. Taeumin had higher BMI and ROME III score than soyangin and soeumin. They showed significant differences in ordinary symptoms and special symptoms according to BMI. Overweight and obese group is higher in water intake than low and normal group. Low weight and normal group is higher in gap of feces than overweight and obese group. High score group in PSST and ROME III showed high BMI than low score group. We analyzed the factors that affect BMI. BMI are highly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Also, FSS, PSST, ROME III and OSDI showed high correlation with each other. Conclusion Urine frequency and gap of feces are different among sasang constitutional types. The obese group and normal group showed significant differences in water intake, gap of feces, PSST and ROME III score. It is found that factors that affecting BMI are systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These results may lead to identifying the causes and factors of obesity in female college students related to Sasang constitution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effects of auriculotherapy on reducing signs of dry eye syndrome. Methods: This study is based on a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design. The participants who scored higher than 13 on the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) were divided randomly into two groups, the experimental group (n=45) and the control group (n=44). Auriculotherapy was performed by researchers for 2 weeks. For the experimental group, seed stickers were applied to the eye, liver, shenmen, and tubercle point of their ears. The pretest and the posttest included the same questionnaires of the OSDI as well as the Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ25) and the eye fatigue. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, t-test and paired t-test, using SAS 20.0 program. Results: The difference in the OSDI's scores showed a significant decrease between the pretest and the posttest (t=-4.12, p<.001) in the experimental group. No significant difference was found in the NEI-VFQ25 (t=-0.10, p=.921, t=-0.91 p=.374). However, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in eye fatigue (t=5.78, p<.001), whereas the control group showed no difference (t=1.38, p=.18). Conclusion: Auriculotherapy can be used effectively on relieving the symptoms of dry eye syndrome and eye fatigue. However, the quality of life related to eyes was not improved by auriculotherapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.10-25
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this review is to validate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on dry eye syndrome. Methods : Through foreign online databases(Pubmed, Cochrane Library) and domestic online databases(Science On, OASIS) we only searched for Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) that performed acupuncture for dry eye syndrome from January 2010 to December 2022. Results : The most commonly used acupoints were 風池(GB20), 贊竹(BL2) and the most commonly used meridian was the gall bladder meridian of foot-shaoyang. The most commonly used evaluation criteria was Tear Break Up Time(TBUT) followed by Schirmer Test and Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI). In most of 8 studies, acupuncture treatment showed significant therapeutic effects. Conclusions : According to this study results, acupuncture can be suggested to effective way for treating dry eye syndrome. More clinical studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of the acupuncture on dry eye syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.389-396
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• 2014

Purpose: The study examined dry eye symptoms of occupants in a newly constructed building and its effects on their work productivity and general activity. Methods: The study subjects were 33 office workers who spent more than eight hours per day on average in a new building constructed in the past three months. The indoor air quality of the new building was evaluated by measuring aldehydes, temperature and humidity. The level of dry eye symptoms was classified into normal, mild, moderate and severe by using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The experience of LASIK surgery, use of eye makeup, daily use time of a computer and smart-phone, and average daily working hours were also examined. The Work Limitation Productivity Questionnaire was used as the questionnaire about work productivity and general activity to measure the impairment level on a ten-point scale. Results: The concentration variation of formaldehyde in the office was $42.42{\pm}6.30{\mu}g/m^3$. The temperature and humidity were $26.2{\pm}0.70^{\circ}C$ and $40{\pm}1%$, respectively. The respondents with normal, mild, moderate and severe dry eye symptoms were 15.2%, 18.2%, 18.2% and 48.5%, respectively. The severity of dry eye symptoms and impairment of work productivity and general activity demonstrated high correlations of 0.599 and 0.655, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to the normal case, severe dry eye symptoms demonstrated significantly high impairment of work productivity and interruption of general activity (p<0.001). The case of serious dry symptoms showed the possibilities of having impairment level of work productivity and interruption of general activity above three points 3.26 times (p=0.032) and 2.25 times (p=0.045), respectively, higher than that of the normal case. Conclusions: It was confirmed that dry eye symptoms among office workers in a newly constructed building affects work productivity and general activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.64-77
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• 2023

Objectives : Recently, the number of patients with dry eye syndrome has been steadily increasing. However, established treatment for it does not yet exist. This study compared electronic moxibustion with acupuncture for patients with dry eye in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods : This trial was designed as an investigator-initiated, single-blinded, comparative, randomized controlled trial. Thirty patients with dry eye were randomized to the electronic moxibustion treatment group(EMG) or the acupuncture treatment group(AG) in equal proportion. The participants who assigned to the EMG were treated with electronic moxibustion to ten acupoints including both sides of BL2, GB14, TE23, and LI4 for 12 minutes. The participants who were assigned to the AG were treated with acupuncture to the same acupoints for 15 minutes. Over 4 weeks, each intervention was carried out twelve times in total. The primary outcome was the ocular surface disease index(OSDI). The secondary outcomes were the subjective symptoms visual analog scale(VAS), quality of life(QoL), Schirmer I test(SIT), and general assessment. Adverse events and vital signs were also investigated for safety assessment. Results : In intragroup comparisons, both the EMG and the AG significantly improved the OSDI scores, the subjective symptoms VAS scores, the QoL scores, and the SIT results after 4 weeks of the trial. However, there were no statistical differences in intergroup comparisons between the two groups after 4 weeks. The safety of electronic moxibustion and acupuncture was confirmed by no occurrence of serious adverse events. Conclusions : Both electronic moxibustion and acupuncture were effective for dry eye syndrome, and they were safe. Electronic moxibustion and acupuncture can be used for dry eye syndrome as equivalent treatments.