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Transcorneal electrical stimulation of retina to treat longstanding retinal artery occlusion

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Purpose

To report the outcome of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) of the visual system on long-standing retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

Design

Open labeled, case series.

Patients and 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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

    Koichi Inomata, Kei Shinoda, Hisao Ohde, Kazushige Tsunoda, Gen Hanazono & Yozo Miyake

  2. Laboratory of Clinical Epidemioogy, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan

    Itaru Kimura

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Nihon University, 1-8-13 Surugadai, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-8309, Japan

    Koichi Inomata, Hisao Ohde & Mitsuko Yuzawa

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan

    Kei Shinoda, Hisao Ohde, Itaru Kimura & Kazuo Tsubota

  5. Kamoshita Eye Clinic, 7-15-14 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0032, Japan

    Hisao Ohde

Authors
  1. Koichi Inomata
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  2. Kei Shinoda
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  3. Hisao Ohde
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  4. Kazushige Tsunoda
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  5. Gen Hanazono
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  6. Itaru Kimura
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  7. Mitsuko Yuzawa
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  8. Kazuo Tsubota
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  9. Yozo Miyake
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kei Shinoda.

Additional information

None of the authors have any financial or proprietary interest in any material or methods mentioned. This study was supported by Researches on Sensory and Communicative Disorders from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan.

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Inomata, K., Shinoda, K., Ohde, H. et al. Transcorneal electrical stimulation of retina to treat longstanding retinal artery occlusion. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 245, 1773–1780 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0610-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0610-9

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