Electrical stimulation of the eyes is a physiotherapeutic treatment method, which is based on the action of an electric pulse current. In ophthalmology, they are used to act on the muscular apparatus of the eyes, optic nerve and retina. This is a modern technique, comfortable and one of the most effective. This method is perfect for the prevention of visual impairment and the treatment of a number of eye pathologies. In clinical practice, electrostimulation of the eyes is used for more than twenty-five years.
Appointment
The action of an electric pulse current on the motor muscles of the eyes and eyelids leads to a gradual improvement in nervous and muscle transmission. This helps to achieve normalization in muscle tone, and, in addition, improves their direct functioning with friendly eye movement (against the background of strabismus), lifting the eyelids (in the presence of ptosis) and so on.
The action of electrical stimulation aimed at the sensory apparatus of the organs of vision (optic nerve and retina) helps to increase the number of functional connections with the brain and creates a large feedback. Moreover, against the background of all stages of the visual analyzer in a state of sleep, the number of neurons decreases. In the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex, a focus of excitement appears, nerve cells are activated.
It is prescribed to perform electrical stimulation of the retina with dystrophic changes in the optic nerve and retina, amblyopia, myopia, pathologies of the oculomotor muscles (against the background of paresis and paralysis).
Indications for electrical stimulation
In the presence of appropriate medical indications (expected improvement from therapy), electrostimulation of the eyes is carried out by children and adults. For various eye diseases, the effectiveness of this method varies depending on the age of the patient and the duration of the disease. Children under eight years of age are electrostimulated subject to the psychological readiness of the baby for this type of treatment (the question is always decided individually with parents). Diseases in the presence of which the general effectiveness of performing electrical stimulation is proved:
- Atrophy of the optic nerves of various origins (post-traumatic, glaucomatous, toxic, ischemic damage).
- The patient develops myopia (myopia).
- With spasms of accommodation (against the background of false myopia). This is a violation of the ciliary eye muscle, because of which the eye ceases to clearly distinguish between objects that are at different distances from the visual organ.
- With asthenopia. That is, against the background of visual discomfort or fatigue that quickly occurs during the work of the organs of vision (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, etc.).
- Against the background of amblyopia, that is, when vision is weakened, which is functional in nature and can not be corrected using glasses or lenses (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, congenital cataracts, corneal opacities, etc.).
- Against the background of presbyopia (senile hyperopia). In this case, we are talking about age-related changes in eye refraction, which develop closer to forty years of age and are manifested by difficulty in looking at small objects, when reading texts nearby, which are printed in small print.
- As part of preventive treatment in people who work in the mode of visual tension.
- Against the background of computer-based visual display syndrome, which occurs in fifty percent of PC users. Such a syndrome manifests itself in a decrease in visual acuity, the occurrence of fog, and, in addition, a violation of the ability to see certain objects or text at different distances. It is advisable to carry out this procedure when doubling objects, against the background of pain during eye movement, in the area of the forehead and orbit, dryness, burning in the eyes (with sand in the eyes), photophobia and other manifestations, up to the occurrence of false myopia.
- Against the background of degenerative lesions of the retina.
- With retinitis, a hereditary disease of the retina, manifested by uneven pigment deposition on the periphery of the retina. Such deposits are sometimes called bone bodies and the failure of twilight vision (in low light conditions), and, in addition, a decrease in visual acuity.
- In the presence of strabismus and ptosis.
- In the presence of a congenital pathology of the elements of the visual analyzer.
- Against the background of cataract (in order to prevent the occurrence of amblyopia and in preparation for surgery).
Contraindications to eye stimulation
This method also has disadvantages. For example, in the presence of serious neurological damage, this technique may be ineffective or will not produce results at all. With this procedure, the underlying disease is not treated, but only its main consequences are eliminated. In addition to the use of this method, there are contraindications:
- The patient has atrial fibrillation.
- The development of rheumatism in the active phase.
- The occurrence of frequent bleeding.
- The appearance of heart disease and oncology.
- The occurrence of infectious diseases.
- The appearance of inflammation in the acute stage.
It is forbidden to use eye stimulation to restore tendons and muscles if they were sutured less than a month ago. In no case should this method be used for muscle rehabilitation for pregnant women, since the procedure can provoke an increase in uterine tone, which can often result in a miscarriage or premature birth (depending on the timing of gestation).
What effect is achieved through treatment?
The effects of electrostimulation of the muscles of the eye, as a rule, are achieved as follows:
- Achieving improved visual acuity.
- Increased peripheral vision.
- Achieving stabilization of intraocular pressure (in the presence of compensated glaucoma).
- Increased overall tonus of the oculomotor muscles.
- Expansion of accommodation reserves.
It is better to familiarize yourself with reviews of electrostimulation in advance.
How can I get electrical stimulation of the visual organ?
In order to find out about the indications for electrical stimulation, you need to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. In specialized clinics, electrical stimulation is carried out according to medical indications and against the background of the absence of any contraindications for this type of therapy.
How is electrical stimulation performed and what devices are used?
They use a special device for electrostimulation of the eyes, which is called the ESOM ophthalmic microprocessor-based electrostimulator. In order to determine the individual parameters and characteristics with which the procedure will be carried out for a particular person, it is necessary to perform a preliminary examination.
After determining the appropriate parameters with which this manipulation will be performed in a particular patient, one of the sensors of the electrostimulation apparatus is attached to the patient’s hand, and the patient applies the other, which looks like a fountain pen, to the eyelid. The stimulation procedure lasts from ten to fifteen minutes. At the same time, patients do not feel any pain or discomfort, but only see a flickering light (namely, phosphene). The procedure is carried out daily, each eye is serviced separately.
Treatment results
According to various sources, positive results after the first course of electrical stimulation are observed in 25-97% of cases, which directly depends on the degree of damage to visual function. The result of treatment lasts from six months to two years. Summarizing the available data, it is worth highlighting a number of diseases in which electrical stimulation is particularly effective in the framework of a single treatment:
- Against the background of partial atrophy of the optic nerves after traumatic brain injuries, in the presence of glaucomatous etiology and toxic damage to the optic nerves. In all these cases, a positive effect is achieved in seventy-five percent of cases.
- Amid childhood amblyopia, efficacy ranges from sixty to eighty percent.
- In the presence of partial congenital and postneuric atrophy of the optic nerves, a positive result is achieved in seventy-nine percent of cases.
In a number of situations, against the background of visual acuity unchanged after the initial course of therapy, the electrophysiological parameter improves, which can be regarded as a positive result of stimulation.
According to reviews, eye stimulation for children is very effective.
Procedure for children
Immediately before the start of the procedure, it is extremely important to correctly diagnose a person, and, in addition, choose methods of physiotherapy. Next, you need to prepare the child, including psychologically. This is especially important for children who are young. The first procedure is usually allowed in the presence of mom or dad to reduce stress levels.
Duration
The duration of each session, as a rule, reaches one hour. In a specially equipped treatment room, the baby is seated at the table on which the apparatus is located. All the time the procedure is performed, his eyes must necessarily look strictly at a special screen, which is brought close to the visual organs. Some methods use special glasses.
As a rule, the course of therapy for a child rarely exceeds four sessions and almost does not require any restorative actions. For small patients, auxiliary medications can be prescribed that accelerate healing and consolidate the result, and, in addition, lenses with special glasses.
The results of treatment in children
Regardless of the degree of intensity of the disease, the positive effect of electrostimulation of the eyes in children is quickly felt. However, the quality of therapy, first of all, will also depend on the correct execution of the individual plan, and, in addition, on the regularity of the child visiting the physiotherapy room. In general, such hardware treatment of children, as a rule, helps to achieve the following results:
- Increased children's visual acuity.
- Increased overall eye health along with reduced fatigue.
- Improving the quality of blood supply, and, in addition, blood circulation in the tissues of the visual organ.
- Blocking the further development of eye diseases in a child.
Thus, eye diseases in children urgently require close attention and the implementation of all instructions prescribed by the pediatrician and ophthalmologist. After all, it is important for mothers and fathers to remember that emerging defects at an early age can seriously affect the health of a child already in the adult period of his life.
Retinal Impact
First of all, the electrostimulation procedure can affect the ciliary muscle, which controls the process of focusing images on the retina and the state of its photoreceptors - cones and rods. During the procedure, changes in the neural activity of the visual system occur. At the level of the retina, the activation of a functionally inhibited element is achieved along with an improvement in energy metabolism. And directly at the level of the optic nerve, it is possible to improve the conductivity of the nerve fiber.
Electrical stimulation under the eyes
The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the impact on living tissue with low-frequency electric currents of low strength. Such an effect does not cause visible contractions of muscle fibers, but works at the cellular level. The current area extends to the skin, muscle tissue, lymphatic and blood vessels. Microcurrents can improve blood circulation and lymph movement, contributing to the activation of the metabolism and general regeneration. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Below are reviews of eye stimulation in children and adults.
Reviews
Reviews about this procedure are mostly positive. Visual acuity improves and eye fatigue decreases. People in their comments report that electrical stimulation is usually well tolerated, does not cause side effects, and is painless. True, some patients are somewhat annoyed by the duration of the sessions. Taking aids against these procedures helps children recover their eyesight faster.