EFFECT OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROSTIMULATION OF THE OPTIC-NERVE AND RETINA ON VISUAL FUNCTIONS OF PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Electrostimulation courses with OEC-2 Ophthalmologic Electrostimulator were administered to 30 patients (36 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma and normal intraocular pressure. An active electrode was placed on the upper lid, an indifferent one on the forearm. Electric pulses (150-900 mcA) were grouped in several sessions, 30 sec each, divided by 30-45 sec intervals. Total duration of a procedure was 16 min, the course consisting of 10 procedures. Control group included 24 eyes of the same patients. The patients were examined before, immediately, and 4-5 months after the treatment. Noticeable changes in vision acuity and visual field were detected. Visual field was examined using Humphrey Field Analyzer and 120-point threshold related test. The treatment resulted in reduction of visual field deficit by 10 % or more in 28 (78 %) of 36 eyes, in its increase in 2 eyes, and in no changes in 2 cases. Visual field deficit decreased by 25 % on an average as against the initial value. Four to five months after the treatment the changes in this parameter were negligible. Vision acuity increased after the treatment in 31 of 36 eyes by 0.17 diopters on an average; 4 to 5 months later no changes occurred. In control eyes no changes were detected either in vision acuity or visual field during and after the treatment.