Clinical Trial: The Effect of Transcorneal Stimulation in Cases of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Using a New Waveform

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title:

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) with a non conventional biphasic bipolar waveform in central retinal artery occlusion

Detailed Summary:

Patients with acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) generally present with a history of painless visual loss that occurred over several seconds. In some instances amaurosis fugax is also present. At the time of initial examination, visual acuity in 90% of patients with CRAO can vary from counting fingers to light perception. Acute CRAO is considered an emergency situation, and therapy must be started as soon as possible. There are different reports where different treatments were proved for the acute phase for example: ocular massage, anterior chamber paracentesis, intravenous mannitol, acetazolamide, hyperbaric oxygenation, microcatheter urokinase infusion, and carbogen 1,2,3. Electrophysiological occlusion of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery occlusion, or central retinal vein has a profound impact on the ERG. ERG can provide an objective assessment of severity if occlusion occurs, the b wave is eliminated and a reduction in the "a" wave can be observed.

In addition, a traumatic optic neuropathy, together with retinal ganglion cell death, can induce a loss of vision which progresses rapidly within several hours l. It is known that the visual prognosis following treatment of acute central retinal artery occlusion is not as good as we would like 2; the patient must go to any emergency department to be treated immediately3, in order to preserve maximal visual function. It has been prove that the retinal function recovers after an ischemic event lasting up to 97 minutes, 4 and irreparable damage may occur after 105 minutes. This is why this study intervene during the chronic phase between 4 hrs and 14 days; where demonstrable clinical improvements in the magnitude of retinal damage where seen5, 6, 7 However recently research reports have shown that, electrical stimulation can rescue injured retinal ganglion cells from death cells and can preser
Sponsor: Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México

Current Primary Outcome: Visual acuity [ Time Frame: Baseline, Final ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México

Dates:
Date Received: December 3, 2008
Date Started: April 2008
Date Completion:
Last Updated: December 4, 2008
Last Verified: December 2008