Evaluation of visual acuity in dry AMD patients after microcurrent electrical stimulation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss globally.
• Current therapeutic options for dry AMD are limited, primarily focusing on nutritional supplementation.
• There is a critical unmet need for effective treatments to preserve and restore vision in dry AMD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of transpalpebral microcurrent electrical stimulation in improving visual function for individuals with dry AMD.
• To assess the impact of microcurrent therapy on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS).

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted.
• Participants with confirmed dry AMD and visual impairment were randomized (3:1) to receive microcurrent stimulation (MacuMira device) or a sham treatment.
• Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 30 weeks using standardized assessments.

Main Results:

• The treatment group showed a statistically significant improvement in the number of letters read (NLR) compared to the sham group at both 4 weeks (+7.7 letters) and 30 weeks (+10.4 letters).
• Improvements in NLR were highly significant (p < 0.001) for the treatment group versus sham control.
• Similar positive trends were observed in contrast sensitivity measurements, indicating enhanced visual function.

Conclusions:

• Transpalpebral microcurrent stimulation demonstrated encouraging results in improving key visual measures for dry AMD patients.
• This pilot study suggests that microcurrent therapy is a potential novel treatment modality for dry age-related macular degeneration.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and establish optimal treatment protocols.