TRANSPALPEBRAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

 

Felix Gil-Carrasco and colleagues have performed a study to analyze the effect of non-invasive transpalpebral specific exogenous voltages on intraocular pressure (IOP) in a cohort of open-angle glaucoma patients.

The electrical stimuli applied consisted of 10 Hz, biphasic, nonrectangular current pulses (100 μA) delivered from an isolated constant current stimulator.

The study was conducted on 78 eyes of 46 patients. Out of these, 58 eyes had reached maximum tolerated medical treatment, while 20 eyes were treatment naïve.

The mean baseline IOP in the treated POAG group was 19.25 mmHg ± 4.71.

The baseline IOP in the treatment-naive group was 20.38 mmHg ± 3.28.

After 4 months of follow-up, the mean IOP in the treated group was 14.41 mmHg ± 2.06 (P < 0.0001) (25.14% IOP reduction from baseline).

The mean IOP measurement in the treatment-naive group was 15.29 mmHg ± 2.28 (P < 0.0001) (25.9% IOP reduction from baseline).

The authors concluded that the IOP-lowering effect of transpalpebral electrical stimulation was statistically significant in the treated and treatment-naïve group of patients.

The authors claim that alterations in the mechanical properties of trabecular cells due to ion-channel dysfunction alter the volume and density of these cells. These changes subsequently have an adverse effect on the permeability and aqueous outflow through the trabecular meshwork.

The effect of transpalpebral-specific exogenous voltages is similar to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The electric potential induces the reactivation of BKCa2+ in trabecular meshwork cells. This improves aqueous outflow through the conventional pathway. Since IOP is reduced in patients who have achieved maximal tolerable medical treatment, it is assumed that the aqueous outflow is improved through the non-conventional outflow pathway, and aqueous production is also reduced.

REFERENCE:

Gil-Carrasco F, Ochoa-Contreras D, Torres MA, Santiago-Amaya J, Pérez-Tovar FW, Gonzalez-Salinas R, Nino-de-Rivera L. Transpalpebral Electrical Stimulation as a Novel Therapeutic Approach to Decrease Intraocular Pressure for Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Pilot Study. J Ophthalmol. 2018 Jul 19;2018:2930519. doi: 10.1155/2018/2930519. PMID: 30116627; PMCID: PMC6079529.