Phosphene thresholds elicited by transcorneal electrical stimulation in healthy subjects and patients with retinal diseases
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate electrically evoked phosphene thresholds (EPTs) in healthy subjects and in patients with retinal disease and to assess repeatability and possible correlations with common ophthalmologic tests. METHODS: In all, 117 individuals participated: healthy subjects (n = 20) and patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP, n = 30), Stargardt's disease (STG, n = 14), retinal artery occlusion (RAO, n = 20), nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION, n = 16), and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG, n = 17). EPTs were determined at 3, 6, 9, 20, 40, 60, and 80 Hz with 5 + 5-ms biphasic current pulses using DTL electrodes. Subjects were examined twice (test-retest range: 1-6 weeks). An empirical model was developed to describe the current-frequency relationship of EPTs. Visual acuity, visual field (kinetic + static), electrophysiology (RP, RAO, STG: Ganzfeld-electroretinography [ERG]/multifocal-ERG; POAG: pattern-ERG; NAION: VEP), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination, and tonometry were assessed. RESULTS: EPTS varied between disease groups (20 HZ: healthy subjects: 0.062 ± 0.038 mA; STG: 0.102 ± 0.097 mA; POAG: 0.127 ± 0.09 mA; NAION: 0.244 ± 0.126 mA; RP: 0.371 ± 0.223 mA; RAO: 0.988 ± 1.142 mA). In all groups EPTs were lowest at 20 Hz. In patients with retinal diseases and across all frequencies EPTs were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects, except in STG at 20 Hz (P = 0.09) and 40 Hz (P = 0.17). Test-retest difference at 20 Hz was 0.006 mA in the healthy group and 0.003-0.04 mA in disease groups. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the fast, safe, and reliable practicability of EPT testing, this test might be used more often under clinical circumstances. Determination of EPTs could be potentially useful in elucidation of the progress of ophthalmologic diseases, either in addition to standard clinical assessment or under conditions in which these standard tests cannot be used meaningfully. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00804102.).
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Selection for retinal prostheses is based on retinal imaging to verify structural integrity and corneal stimulation with lens electrodes to verify retinal excitability.
“Among other criteria, the selection for retinal prostheses is based on retinal imaging to verify structural integrity [217] and corneal stimulation with lens electrodes to verify the retinal excitability [217][218][219].”
From Advances in visual prostheses: engineering and biological challenges (2022) · cites this paper as [219]
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References 63 · Cited by 55
- Authors
- Naycheva, L., Schatz, A., Röck, T., Willmann, G., Messias, A., Bartz-Schmidt, K. U., Zrenner, E., & Gekeler, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- From the Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; and the
- Corresponding author
- Naycheva, Lubka
- Venue
- Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science
- Published
- 2012-11-01
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 7440
- ISSN
- 0146-0404 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5783
- OpenAlex
- W2066155990
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 1.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Scientific Electronic Library Online (São Paulo Research Foundation, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Retinal Development and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Retinal Diseases and Treatments
- Keywords
- transcorneal electrical stimulation, retinal disease, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, retinal artery occlusion, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, primary open-angle glaucoma, test-retest repeatability, visual function assessment, visual acuity, visual field, electroretinogram
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Cornea, Electric Stimulation, Electroretinography, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Phosphenes, Retinal Diseases, Visual Acuity
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