Visual AcuityNCT07135180
Exploring the Eye Care Benefits of Cordyceps Cicadae Across Different Age Groups
A study testing Cordyceps cicadae in people with Visual Acuity and Accommodation, run by China Medical University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of consuming two capsules (each containing 250 mg of Cordyceps cicadae mycelium, for a total intake of 500 mg) of Grape King's Cordyceps cicadae mycelium through a clinical human trial. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Visual Acuity, Accommodation, Dry Eye
- What is being tested?
- Cordyceps cicadae
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 200 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2025to 31 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 30 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- People with myopia less than 700 degrees
- Willing to participate in this study and sign the consent form
Who cannot join
- (1) Those who have recently consumed related eye care products
- (2) Those who have had eye infections or surgery in the past three months
- (3) Those who have been diagnosed with eye diseases by an ophthalmologist (such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, etc., or have undergone eye surgery such as cataract surgery, retinal laser surgery, myopia laser surgery, etc., which will be excluded before accepting the case)
- (4) Those who are allergic to cicada fungus
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The aim of this study is to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of consuming two capsules (each containing 250 mg of Cordyceps cicadae mycelium, for a total intake of 500 mg) of Grape King's Cordyceps cicadae mycelium through a clinical human trial. By including participants from different age groups, the study investigates whether improvements in visual acuity and the alleviation of eye fatigue are associated with changes in ocular accommodation, tear film stability, and blood circulation. The ultimate goal is to develop a health supplement beneficial for vision.
Read the detailed description
Over the past decade, vision problems caused by electronic screen use across all age groups have gradually shifted from being primarily occupational health issues to broader public health concerns. Moreover, studies have shown that prolonged computer use may lead to blurred vision at near or far distances-one of the hallmark symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), also known as Digital Eye Strain (DES). A key contributing factor is inaccurate accommodative response, either due to underaccommodation or overaccommodation while focusing on a visual target, leading to visual fatigue.
Sheedy et al. identified common symptoms of visual fatigue, including eye tiredness, discomfort, burning, irritation, pain, soreness, eye ache, double vision, photophobia, blurriness, itching, tearing, dryness, and a foreign body sensation. These symptoms are generally classified into two categories: the first, external symptoms-such as burning, irritation, dryness, and tearing-are associated with dry eye syndrome; the second, internal symptoms-such as eye fatigue, headache, ocular pain, diplopia, and blurred vision-are typically linked to refractive errors, accommodative dysfunction, or convergence anomalies.
In addition, a study by Tosha et al. found that subjects who experienced greater visual discomfort after prolonged computer use exhibited a significant increase in accommodative lag, suggesting a link to accommodative fatigue. Overall, these conditions are closely related to visual fatigue, and if left unmanaged, may impair visual function over time and potentially contribute to the progression of myopia.
Therefore, appropriately managing screen time, along with adequate visual rest and eye care strategies, is essential for maintaining healthy accommodation and visual function. Previous studies have demonstrated that Cordyceps cicadae mycelium can effectively relieve eye fatigue and improve visual acuity; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The Cordyceps cicadae mycelium used in this study has passed 16 safety evaluation tests and has been granted a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI No. 834) number by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as food clearance approval by Japanese customs. The product is supplied by Grape King Bio. This study aims to further investigate the eye-protective mechanisms of Cordyceps cicadae mycelium and its beneficial effects on visual health across different age groups.
- Conditions
- Visual Acuity, Accommodation, Dry Eye
- Being tested
- Cordyceps cicadae, Blank control
- Medical subject headings
- Dry Eye Syndromes
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cordyceps cicadaeDietary supplement
Cordyceps cicadae 500mg
Blank controlDietary supplement
Blank control
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Arm | Experimental | Cordyceps cicadae 500mg Receives: Dietary Supplement: Cordyceps cicadae |
| Placebo Comparator Arm | Placebo comparator | Placebo Receives: Dietary Supplement: Blank control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Eye fatigue questionnaire
The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess visual fatigue. The subjects were asked to fill in the questionnaire before and after taking the medicine, and the scores were calculated. Symptoms include eyestrain, discomfort, burning, irritation, pain, soreness, eye pain, double vision, photophobia, blurriness, itching, tearing, dryness, and foreign body sensation
Measured: 3 hours
Tear break-up time
Tear film break-up time (TBUT) on the corneal surface will be recorded in seconds using corneal topography.
Measured: 3 hours
Accommodative Facility
Use +/- 0.50D flip mirror and special optometry cards to test the number of optometry cards that the patient can read within one minute and record the number of flip cycles.
Measured: 3 hours
Visual acuity measurement
Examinations include (a) distance visual acuity (DVA) and (b) near visual acuity (NVA), recorded using the Snellen chart.
Measured: 3 hours
Choroidal thickness test
Heidelberg SPECTRALIS optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to examine the choroid thickness in micrometer of the subjects.
Measured: 3 hours
Tear meniscus height (TMH)
Tear meniscus height (TMH) will be evaluated using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and recorded in millimeters.
Measured: 3 hours
Meibomian gland observation
The meibomian glands will be evaluated using corneal topography to document their morphology, quantity, and size.
Measured: 3 hours
Secondary outcomes (1)
Intraocular Pressure
The intraocular pressure (IOP) of the subjects was measured by non-contact intraocular pressure measurement in mmHg.
Measured: 3 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Aug 2025
- Study start1 Jul 2025
- Primary completion31 Aug 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Visual AcuityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by China Medical University HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- China Medical University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hui Wen Lin, China Medical University Hospital
- Investigators
- Hui-Wen Lin, Ph.D, Principal investigator, Chung Shang medical university
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07135180
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CS2-25025
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 11 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 21 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This experiment involves patents and intellectual property rights
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Exploring the Eye Care Benefits of Cordyceps Cicadae Across Different Age Groups
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07135180
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CS2-25025
- Conditions
- Visual Acuity, Accommodation, Dry Eye
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- China Medical University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of consuming two capsules (each containing 250 mg of Cordyceps cicadae mycelium, for a total intake of 500 mg) of Grape King's Cordyceps cicadae mycelium through a clinical human trial. By including participants from different age groups, the study investigates whether improvements in visual acuity and the alleviation of eye fatigue are associated with changes in ocular accommodation, tear film stability, and blood circulation. The ultimate goal is to develop a health supplement beneficial for vision.
Detailed description
Over the past decade, vision problems caused by electronic screen use across all age groups have gradually shifted from being primarily occupational health issues to broader public health concerns. Moreover, studies have shown that prolonged computer use may lead to blurred vision at near or far distances-one of the hallmark symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), also known as Digital Eye Strain (DES). A key contributing factor is inaccurate accommodative response, either due to underaccommodation or overaccommodation while focusing on a visual target, leading to visual fatigue.
Sheedy et al. identified common symptoms of visual fatigue, including eye tiredness, discomfort, burning, irritation, pain, soreness, eye ache, double vision, photophobia, blurriness, itching, tearing, dryness, and a foreign body sensation. These symptoms are generally classified into two categories: the first, external symptoms-such as burning, irritation, dryness, and tearing-are associated with dry eye syndrome; the second, internal symptoms-such as eye fatigue, headache, ocular pain, diplopia, and blurred vision-are typically linked to refractive errors, accommodative dysfunction, or convergence anomalies.
In addition, a study by Tosha et al. found that subjects who experienced greater visual discomfort after prolonged computer use exhibited a significant increase in accommodative lag, suggesting a link to accommodative fatigue. Overall, these conditions are closely related to visual fatigue, and if left unmanaged, may impair visual function over time and potentially contribute to the progression of myopia.
Therefore, appropriately managing screen time, along with adequate visual rest and eye care strategies, is essential for maintaining healthy accommodation and visual function. Previous studies have demonstrated that Cordyceps cicadae mycelium can effectively relieve eye fatigue and improve visual acuity; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The Cordyceps cicadae mycelium used in this study has passed 16 safety evaluation tests and has been granted a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI No. 834) number by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as food clearance approval by Japanese customs. The product is supplied by Grape King Bio. This study aims to further investigate the eye-protective mechanisms of Cordyceps cicadae mycelium and its beneficial effects on visual health across different age groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Arm | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Cordyceps cicadaeCordyceps cicadae 500mg |
| Placebo Comparator Arm | Placebo comparator | Dietary Supplement: Blank controlPlacebo |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- People with myopia less than 700 degrees
- Willing to participate in this study and sign the consent form
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- (1) Those who have recently consumed related eye care products
- (2) Those who have had eye infections or surgery in the past three months
- (3) Those who have been diagnosed with eye diseases by an ophthalmologist (such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, etc., or have undergone eye surgery such as cataract surgery, retinal laser surgery, myopia laser surgery, etc., which will be excluded before accepting the case)
- (4) Those who are allergic to cicada fungus
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps cicadaeCordyceps cicadae 500mg | Dietary supplement | Experimental Arm |
| Blank controlBlank control | Dietary supplement | Placebo Comparator Arm |
Primary outcome
Eye fatigue questionnaire
Time frame: 3 hours
The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess visual fatigue. The subjects were asked to fill in the questionnaire before and after taking the medicine, and the scores were calculated. Symptoms include eyestrain, discomfort, burning, irritation, pain, soreness, eye pain, double vision, photophobia, blurriness, itching, tearing, dryness, and foreign body sensation
Tear break-up time
Time frame: 3 hours
Tear film break-up time (TBUT) on the corneal surface will be recorded in seconds using corneal topography.
Accommodative Facility
Time frame: 3 hours
Use +/- 0.50D flip mirror and special optometry cards to test the number of optometry cards that the patient can read within one minute and record the number of flip cycles.
Visual acuity measurement
Time frame: 3 hours
Examinations include (a) distance visual acuity (DVA) and (b) near visual acuity (NVA), recorded using the Snellen chart.
Choroidal thickness test
Time frame: 3 hours
Heidelberg SPECTRALIS optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to examine the choroid thickness in micrometer of the subjects.
Tear meniscus height (TMH)
Time frame: 3 hours
Tear meniscus height (TMH) will be evaluated using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and recorded in millimeters.
Meibomian gland observation
Time frame: 3 hours
The meibomian glands will be evaluated using corneal topography to document their morphology, quantity, and size.
1 secondary outcome
Intraocular Pressure
Time frame: 3 hours
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This experiment involves patents and intellectual property rights
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Hui-Wen Lin, Ph.D principal investigator
Chung Shang medical university
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cordyceps cicadae in people with Visual Acuity and Accommodation, run by China Medical University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Eye fatigue questionnaire (time frame: 3 hours). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Aug 2025.