title: The transcorneal electrical stimulation as a novel therapeutic strategy against retinal and optic neuropathy: a review of experimental and clinical trials.
abstract: Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) is a novel therapeutic approach to activate the retina and related downstream structures. TES has multiple advantages over traditional treatments, such as being minimally invasive and readily applicable in a routine manner. Series of animal experiments have shown that TES protects the retinal neuron from traumatic or genetic induced degeneration. These laboratory evidences support its utilization in ophthalmological therapies against various retinal and optical diseases including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), traumatic optic neuropathy, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), and retinal artery occlusions (RAOs). Several pioneering explorations sought to clarify the functional mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of TES. It seems that the neuroprotective effects should not be attributed to a solitary pathway, on the contrary, multiple mechanisms might contribute collectively to maintain cellular homeostasis and promote cell survival in the retina. More precise evaluations via functional and morphological techniques would determine the exact mechanism underlying the remarkable neuroprotective effect of TES. Further studies to determine the optimal parameters and the long-term stability of TES are crucial to justify the clinical significance and to establish TES as a popularized therapeutic modality against retinal and optic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and Institute for Functional Brain Disorders, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Li-Qiang
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and Institute for Functional Brain Disorders, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: optic neuropathy; retinal disease; therapeutic strategy; transcorneal electrical stimulation