IMPROVED VISUAL FUNCTION IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ELECTRO- STIMULATION THERAPIES FOR RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Finkelstein Auditorium

Objective. We sought to determine if there were vision changes following transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) or electroacupuncture (EA) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. Background. TES and EA are relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, minimal risk therapies, previously reported to improve vision in small-scale studies in RP. Methods. Twenty-one RP subjects were randomized (1:1:1) to TES at 6 weekly half hour sessions (n=7), EA (n=7) or sham inactive laser acupuncture (placebo control; n=7) at 10 half hour sessions over 2 weeks. They completed visual acuity (VA), quick Contrast Sensitivity Function (qCSF) testing, Goldmann visual fields (GVF), Humphrey 10-2 visual fields (HVF), and AdaptDx dark-adaptation at two baseline visits, then within 1 week and 1 month post-intervention. Results. Four of 7 TES subjects (57%), 2 of 7 EA subjects (29%), and none of the 7 control subjects (0%) had a significant improvement in visual function outside of baseline test-retest variability (99% coefficient of repeatability) at both follow- up visits. In the worse seeing eyes at baseline, VA improved for two TES subjects by 4-10 lines, GVF improved in two TES subjects, and HVF mean sensitivity of the four most central points improved in one of these TES subjects. One TES and one EA subject had significant improvements in qCSF log area under the curve. Another EA subject had significantly improved dark-adaptation. No subjects developed a significant visual loss. Conclusion. TES or EA appears to improve visual function in some RP patients. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine the longevity of these responses and efficacy of retreatments. Grants. NIH R21 EY023720; NSU PFRDG award