COMBINATION OF SUN GAZING AND ACUPUNCTURE FOR MYOPIA - A PILOT RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background: Myopia, or near-sightedness, affects distance vision and quality of life. This study evaluated the combined effect of sun gazing and acupuncture on mild to moderate myopia in young adults. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of sun gazing and acupuncture on diopter measurements and distance visual acuity of young adults with myopia. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 participants (aged 18–25) at Alvas College of Naturopathy, Karnataka. Participants were divided into an experimental group (sun gazing and acupuncture) and a control group (acupuncture alone). Sun gazing sessions lasted 5–10 minutes during sunrise or sunset, and acupuncture was administered thrice weekly. Diopter measurements and visual acuity were assessed at baseline and after 30 days using an autorefractor and Snellen chart. Results: Both groups showed significant reductions in SPH values and improvements in visual acuity (P<0.01). However, no significant differences were found between the groups in SPH reduction or visual acuity improvement (P>0.26). Conclusion: Acupuncture improved myopic conditions, but the addition of sun gazing provided no extra benefit. Further research is needed to validate sun gazings efficacy and investigate long-term effects.