title: Transcorneal electrical stimulation of retina to treat longstanding retinal artery occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the outcome of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) of the visual system on long-standing retinal artery occlusion (RAO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Open labeled, case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with central RAO (15 and 33 months respectively) and one with branch RAO (26 months) underwent TES therapy. Subjective and objective ophthalmological evaluations were performed before and after the TES. The ages of the patients were 38, 49, and 63 years. The TES (20 Hz biphasic pulses, 30 minutes, up to 1100 uA) was delivered by a bipolar contact lens electrode once a month for 3 months. Perimetric and/or electrophysiological examinations were performed as outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visual acuity improved by more than 0.2 logMAR units in two cases, and the visual fields were improved in all three cases. The multifocal ERGs which had been reduced in the loci corresponding to the ischemic retinal area were improved after the treatment in two cases. Neither ocular nor systemic adverse effects were observed except for transient superficial keratitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TES of the retina can improve retinal function in eyes with long-standing RAOs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Visual Physiology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8902, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohde
authors.forename: Kazushige
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hanazono
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Mitsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzawa
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubota
authors.forename: Yozo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*