Current Status and Prospects of Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Nerve Stimulation-Based Therapy for Pediatric Blepharospasm

Abstract

Blepharospasm is a common eyelid movement disorder that, although more prevalent in the elderly, also affects children and can significantly impair their visual function and quality of life. Conventional treatments such as medication and botulinum toxin injections have limitations, including high recurrence, strong dependency, and obvious side effects. In recent years, transcutaneous acupoint electrical nerve stimulation (TAENS), a non-invasive therapy integrating modern neuroelectrophysiology with traditional acupuncture theory, has attracted increasing attention in pediatrics. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of blepharospasm from both modern medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspectives, and systematically analyzes current research progress, acupoint selection, treatment protocols, and therapeutic outcomes of TAENS in pediatric blepharospasm. The study highlights TAENS’s unique advantages in improving efficacy, safety, and treatment compliance in children. Furthermore, it identifies current limitations such as small sample sizes, inconsistent protocols, and a lack of long-term follow-up, and proposes future research directions and technical innovations. This work provides theoretical and practical support for expanding treatment options for pediatric blepharospasm.