Effect of transcorneal electrical stimulation in patients with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy or traumatic optic neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) can improve the visual function of patients with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) or traumatic optic neuropathy (TON).


METHODS
Eight consecutive patients at the Osaka University Hospital were studied. TES (600-800 microA, 20 Hz, 30 min) was applied once each to three eyes with NAION and to five eyes with TON, using a contact lens-type stimulating electrode. The primary outcome measurement was the change in visual acuity at 1 to 3 months after TES. An improvement in visual acuity was defined as a change of > or =0.3 log (minimum angle of resolution) (logMAR) units. The side effects of TES were also investigated.


RESULTS
After TES application, the visual acuity improved in two patients with NAION and in four patients with TON. Visual acuity did not worsen in any of the eyes. Only a mild superficial punctuate keratopathy was observed in all eyes immediately after TES, and it healed by the next day.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual acuity can be improved after TES without major complications in some patients with NAION or TON. These results suggest that TES should be considered as a new treatment for eyes with optic neuropathy.
Fujikado
Takashi
T
Department of Applied Visual Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan. fujikado@ophthal.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Morimoto
Takeshi
T
Matsushita
Kenji
K
Shimojo
Hiroshi
H
Okawa
Yoshitaka
Y
Tano
Yasuo
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields