Optimal Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for Peripheral Vision

Summary

Glaucoma is a complex disease that can result in progressive vision loss. There are no treatments that restore vision lost to glaucoma. However, recent studies have shown that vision can be improved by non-invasive brain (NIBS) stimulation and visual training. In this study, we aim to compare and find out the optimal non-invasive brain stimulation model (transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)) for improving peripheral vision in glaucoma patients. The proposed treatment is the application of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) onto the participant's head, with brain stimulation aimed at the Primary Visual Cortex toward the occipital pole. The investigators hypothesize that the tES will enable higher performance in the reading task and secondary measures due to an increase in the cortical excitability of the stimulated brain cells, and tRNS will generate the greatest acute improvement in peripheral vision than either a-tDCS, tACS, or sham stimulation.

Conditions

• Glaucoma

Interventions

DEVICE

transcranial electrical stimulation (tES)

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a form of neuromodulation that uses constant, low direct current delivered via the electrodes on the skull. Three types of tES will be applied in this study, include a-tDCS, tACS, and tRNS. Additionally, sham stimulation will be applied as a placebo-controlled intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of Hong Kong

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Waterloo

  collaborator OTHER

• Hong Kong Metropolitan University

  collaborator OTHER

• Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg

  collaborator OTHER

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Allen Cheong, PhD · The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-11-01

Primary Completion

2025-07-31

Completion

2025-09-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations