Could zapping the brain ease stubborn eye pain?
NCT ID NCT05931250
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether two types of gentle brain stimulation—transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)—can reduce chronic neuropathic eye pain and related symptoms like brain fatigue, migraine, and light sensitivity. Twenty patients with persistent eye pain will receive fifteen 30-minute sessions over five days. The study uses questionnaires and pupil measurements to track changes in pain and other symptoms.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcranial current stimulation (tDCS and tACS)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer a non-drug option for managing chronic neuropathic eye pain and associated symptoms like fatigue and light sensitivity.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The treatment is experimental and may not provide lasting pain relief.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2023
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * persistent eye pain for at least 6 months * average eye pain intensity of 4 or more on a 0-10 numerical rating scale * naive to transcranial stimulation * eye pain having neuropathic-like characteristics Exclusion Criteria: * contraindication to transcranial stimulation (i.e., pacemaker, cardioverter defibrillator, neuro-stimulation (brain or spinal cord), bone growth stimulations, indwelling blood pressure monitors, epilepsy, pregnancy) * presence of ocular diseases that are the likely cause of pain (i.e., corneal and conjunctival scarring, corneal edema, uveitis, iris transillumination defects, etc.) * current participation in another study with an investigational drug or device within one month prior to screening
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Eye Clinic, University Hospital in Linköping
Linköping, Other / Non-US, 58183, Sweden
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