An interventional study of sphenopalatine ganglion release in Increased Production of Tears, sponsored by Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-08.
Sponsored by Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this interventional study is to learn if a hands on technique will increase tear production in patients aged 45 and younger, without a history of eye issues. The main question it aims to answer is:
Will there be an increase in tear production using a specific hand on technique applied inside the mouth?
Participants will have a small, sterile, piece of paper that will be placed briefly in their eye. This is done to take measurements of tear production. A doctor will then perform a hands on technique in which a gloved finger is placed in the participants' mouth to release the tension that is found. After the technique is completed, the participants' eye will be retested with the tear strip. The tear test strip will be applied twice more on the following visits at 2 days after the first session and one week after the first session
This study is designed as an experimental pilot study for proof of concept with pre- and post- test measurements taken on the same individual. We will be measuring at time points 0 (baseline), immediately after treatment (within 5 minutes), 2 day, and 1 week each with a standardized Schirmer's Test for tear production. This study is intended to gather data on around 30 individuals within the set inclusion/exclusion criteria.
The proposed mechanism is that stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system via the sphenopalatine ganglion may induce increased lacrimation and provide relief (of yet unknown duration or efficacy) for patients who report sensations of dry eye
174 studies on the registry are indexed under Lacerations; 43 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 65 across 128 interventional studies indexed under Lacerations.
Browse Lacerations studies →Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine is the lead sponsor of 24 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Pilot that will have participants with no history of dry eye participate to see if there is an increase in tear production
Procedure: sphenopalatine ganglion release
Employs the technique of sphenopalatine ganglion release through use of manual manipulation with a gloved finger intraorally
Schirmer measurements on Participants
Will measure tear production via the Schirmer test strips and will compare pre and post intervention
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 week
Plan to share: No
Started Oct 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jun 2027, 32 months after the start.
Of 46 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Lacerations, half reached primary completion within 19 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 72. This study's planned 32 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 50 studies reached it within 19 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 72.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine