AESON study version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising and Assessing electrical stimulation of the optic nerve
IRAS ID
315079
Contact name
Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 21 days
Research summary
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and the most common cause of optic neuropathy. Currently, the most common tool to assess and monitor visual function in glaucoma is by visual fields. Performing visual fields may be challenging, especially for children and elderly. Electrophysiology (the other modality that could be used for monitoring visual function) had been used for more than a decade in ophthalmology and deemed to be very safe, but signals had not been very precise for monitoring glaucoma and other optic nerve diseases, hence the need to optimize it.
Electrical stimulation has been demonstrated to be useful in stimulation of the motor neurones and the brain and used in clinical practice in these areas. Several studies (both in animal models and clinical trials) had demonstrated its potential in restoring some optic nerve function (therapeutic). It had also been shown to be useful assessment of visual function (diagnostic).
We aim to optimize electrical stimulation of the optic nerve and the retinal ganglion cells to get accurate recordings of visual function from the visual cortex and evaluate its effectiveness and safety.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0542
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion