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

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) is a serious condition affecting vision.
• Current treatments for BRAO have limitations, especially in longstanding cases.

Observation:

• This study investigated the therapeutic potential of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) for BRAO.
• Visual function was assessed using best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs), and Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) perimetry.

Findings:

• TES significantly increased the N2 wave amplitude in mfERGs and shortened implicit times for N1 and P1 components.
• Visual field mean deviation improved in longstanding BRAO cases after TES.
• BCVA did not show significant changes, but mfERG and HFA results suggest functional improvements.

Implications:

• Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) shows promise for improving visual function in patients with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO).
• The findings suggest TES may be a viable treatment option, especially for chronic BRAO cases.
• Further research is warranted to optimize TES parameters and confirm long-term efficacy.