Transcorneal electrical stimulation improves visual function in eyes with branch retinal artery occlusion.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To investigate the effects of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) on eyes that have a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO).

SUBJECTS AND METHOD:

We studied two eyes having a BRAO, with an interval between the onset of symptoms and the beginning of treatment of >16 weeks (longstanding cases), and in three eyes with an interval of <16 weeks (fresh cases). The visual functions of the eyes were assessed by the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs), and automated static perimetry with the Humphrey field analyzer (HFA). The mfERGs were recorded before and 1 month after the TES, and perimetry with the HFA was done before and at 1 and 3 months after the TES. The amplitudes and implicit times of the N1, P1, and N2 components of the mfERGs were analyzed.

RESULTS:

TES did not alter the BCVA significantly in all eyes, but it led to a significant increase in the amplitude of the N2 wave of the mfERGs (P < 0.01). The amplitude of the N1-P1 was also increased but not significantly. The implicit times of N1 (P < 0.01) and P1 (P < 0.05) were significantly shorter than that before the TES. The mean deviation of the HFA was increased after the TES but only in the longstanding cases.

CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that TES improves the visual function in eyes with BRAO, mainly in longstanding cases.

• Authors: Shinichirou Oono, Takuji Kurimoto, Ryosuke Kashimoto, Yuichi Tagami, Norio Okamoto, Osamu Mimura
• Journal: Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) (Clin Ophthalmol) Vol. 5 Pg. 397-402 ( 2011) ISSN: 1177-5483 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 21499563 (Publication Type: Case Reports)