Table 2.
A list of clinical trials on the effect of ES on ocular diseases.
| NCT number | Conditions understudy | Interventions | N (age) | Outcome | L | Status | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT01600300 | MD | Two period treatment with Tesmac device, twice/day for 5 days, with a two-day interval | 40 (≥50) | NA | NA | Completed | 2002 |
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| NCT01282827 | Visual impairment | Repeated tACS (2 to 9 pulses, <1000 μA) | 40 (18-75) | (i) Significant improvement of a VF detection deficit (ii) Significant improvement of VA (iii) EEG: increased synchronization in posterior brain regions (iv) Patients' visual improvements were stable for almost two months |
Germany | Completed | 2006 |
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| NCT00804102 | RP, macula off, POAG, hereditary MD, treated retina detachment, retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, nonarthritic-anterior-ischemic optic-neuropathy, hereditary autosomal dominant optic atrophy, dry AMD, ischemic ME | Transcorneal ES (Dawson-Trick-Litzkow electrode attached to patient eye) | 80 (≥18) | (i) Safety of TES for RP patients. (ii) VF area and scotopic b-wave amplitude were reached statistically significant (iii) A larger sample size was needed for further investigations |
Germany | Completed | 2008 |
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| NCT01280877 | Optic nerve diseases Optic nerve injuries Optic neuropathies |
tACS (8 to 14 pulses, <1000 μA), 1 pulse per minute during 25-35 min | 90 (≥18) | (i) VF improved in the rtACS-treated patients. (ii) EEG: signs of neuromodulation (suggested as probable brain plasticity modulation) (iii) rtACS was reported as a safe and effective therapy for restoring vision |
Germany | Completed | 2010 |
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| NCT01630291 | Dry eye | Electrode device for lacrimal gland stimulation | 4 (≥18) | NA | Mexico | Completed | 2012 |
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| NCT01835002 | RP | Weekly ES using Okustim® device for a period of 30 min for 6 months | 105 (18-80) | (i) Transient dry eye symptoms (ii) No other serious adverse events post TES. (iii) The safety profile of TES |
Germany, UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, and Norway | Completed | 2012 |
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| NCT01847365 | RP | Weakly transcorneal ES using Okustim® device for a period of 30 min for 6 months | 14 (≥18) | (i) Safety and well tolerance of TES application (ii) No significant difference in visual function improvement |
United Kingdom | Completed | 2013 |
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| NCT02019927 | NAION, trauma, MS | Transcorneal ES using the OkuVision device | 97 (≥18) | NA | United States | Completed | 2013 |
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| NCT04008589 | Stroke | Repetitive transorbital AC stimulation combination of transcranial direct current stimulation and rtACS | 45 (18-75) | NA | Germany | Completed | 2014 |
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| NCT02086890 | RP | Electro-acupuncture Laser acupuncture transcorneal ES |
21 (≥18) | (i) TES caused significant improvement in VA and VF (ii) TES reduced RP visual dysfunctions (iii) TES induced retinal blood flow. (iv) TES improved visual function (v) MVF regulated visual function |
United States | Active, not recruiting | 2014 |
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| NCT02405143 | Stroke, infarction; posterior cerebral artery, hemianopsia | Active tACS using DC-stimulator MC | 50 (18-75) | NA | Finland | Unknown status | 2015 |
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| NCT02495935 | Amblyopia | OkuStim® | 40 (≥18) | NA | United States | Recruiting | 2015 |
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| NCT02699216 | Dry MD | ES of the retina | 0 (≥50) | NA | NA | Withdrawn | 2016 |
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| NCT03239418 | Blepharoptosis Lagophthalmos |
Neuromuscular ES | 60 (≥19) | NA | United States | Unknown status | 2017 |
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| NCT02548572 | RP | Transcorneal ES using Okustim device | 0 (22-80) | NA | United States | Withdrawn | 2019 |
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| NCT04042363 | MS, optic neuritis | Transorbital ES (eyetronic next wave 1.1) | 45 (18-60) | NA | France | Recruiting | 2019 |
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| NCT04010994 | Glaucoma | Transorbital ES | 50 (≥18) | NA | Germany | Enrolling by invitation | 2019 |
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| NCT04017234 | Myopia | Frequency following response, eye exercise, and transcutaneous | 27 (6-13) | NA | Taiwan | Recruiting | 2019 |
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| NCT02540148 | Dry AMD | Nova oculus™ microcurrent ES | 60 (≥50) | NA | Canada | Recruiting | 2019 |
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| NCT04634383 | Ocular injury Optic nerve diseases Photoreceptor degeneration Blindness, acquired |
WFMA—wireless floating microelectrode array | 5 (18-65) | NA | United States | Recruiting | 2020 |
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| NCT04648085 | Dry eye Neuropathic pain Eye pain |
Transcutaneous ES | 42 (>18) | NA | Mexico | Recruiting | 2021 |
AMD: age-related macular degeneration; EEG: electroencephalogram; ES: electrical stimulation; L: location; MD: macular degeneration; ME: macula edema; MS: multiple sclerosis; N: number of patients; NAION: nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; NA: not available; POAG: primary open angle glaucoma; RP: retinitis pigmentosa; rtACS: repeated transcranial alternating current stimulation; VA: visual acuity; VF: visual field.