Abstract
Purpose::
It has been reported that electrical stimulation of the transected optic nerve stump enhanced the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in rats. It was also reported that transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) improved visual function in patients with optic neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes of the pattern electroretinograms (ERGs) after TES to evaluate effects of TES on RGC function.
Methods::
TES was delivered through a bipolar contact lens electrode with biphasic electrical current (20Hz, 400µA) in 5 normal healthy subjects. Pattern ERGs were elicited by checkerboard stimuli and recorded before, immediately after, and at 1 week after TES.
Results::
Immediately after TES, the implicit time of P50 of the pattern ERG was significantly shortened (3-5 msec), and the amplitude of N95 was significantly increased to 170-180% of the pre-TES value in all subjects. These changes returned to the pre-TES value at 1 week after TES.
Conclusions::
These findings suggest that TES can alter RGC function transiently.
Keywords: electroretinography: clinical • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques • ganglion cells