Could a daily electric zap to the eye preserve sight in dry AMD?
NCT ID NCT07700147
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial investigates whether a personal-use electric stimulator, worn at home for 30 minutes daily, can improve vision in people with early to intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Participants are randomly assigned to receive either real or sham stimulation for 12 weeks. The study measures changes in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, and tracks any side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcutaneous electrical stimulation device (LRTPM1)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this device could offer a non-invasive, at-home treatment to slow vision loss and improve visual function in people with dry AMD.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early exploratory trial with only 40 participants. The sham-controlled design helps, but results may not generalize, and the device may not provide meaningful benefit.
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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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jul 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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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50 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: 1. Participants aged 50 years or older 2. Participants diagnosed with early or intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration 3. Participants with best corrected visual acuity measured by the ETDRS visual acuity chart of 20/200 or better and 20/30 or worse 4. Participants who have voluntarily decided to participate in the study and have provided written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participants with atrophy involving the foveal center with a diameter of 175 micrometers or greater in at least one eye, as observed by fundus examination or fundus autofluorescence imaging 2. Participants with exudative age-related macular degeneration in at least one eye, as observed by fundus examination or optical coherence tomography (OCT) 3. Participants with a history of intraocular injection therapy or macular laser treatment, including focal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy 4. Participants with retinal or choroidal diseases other than early or intermediate age-related macular degeneration that may affect the study results, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, central serous chorioretinopathy, optic neuritis, or uveitis 5. Participants who have undergone vitrectomy due to retinal disease, or cataract surgery within 1 month prior to screening 6. Participants with ocular media opacity or other conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, may make ophthalmic imaging difficult to interpret, including cataract, vitreous opacity, or vitreous hemorrhage 7. Participants with uncontrolled chronic systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease, or a history of malignancy, except for cases with no recurrence within the past 5 years and no history of chemotherapy 8. Participants with autoimmune diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or Graves' disease 9. Participants with severe hearing impairment, sensory abnormalities, or cognitive impairment that may make it difficult to properly perform the study procedures or recognize or report adverse events 10. Participants who are hypersensitive to orbital nerve stimulation and are unable to receive treatment 11. Participants with a history of drug or alcohol abuse 12. Participants diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or dementia 13. Participants who have participated in another clinical trial within 30 days prior to screening 14. Participants who are considered to have other contraindications to use of the investigational medical device, including underlying cardiac disease, seizure-related disorders, implanted metal or electronic devices in the head or neck area including deep brain stimulators, unexplained pain, implanted or wearable pacemakers, or other conditions listed in the product precautions and contraindications. Dental implants are exempt. 15. Participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, are deemed inappropriate for participation in the study 16. Female participants of childbearing potential who do not agree to use medically accepted contraception during the study period. Medically accepted methods of contraception include condoms, oral contraceptives used consistently for at least 3 months, injectable or implantable contraceptives, or intrauterine devices.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Asan Medical Center
Seoul, 05505, South Korea
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Korea University Ansan Hospital
Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15355, South Korea
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Seoul National University Hospital
Seoul, Jongno-gu, 03080, South Korea
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Light pulses to the eye: a new hope against dry AMD?
- Can a One-Time gene therapy stop the march of dry AMD?
- Could light therapy help save sight in dry macular degeneration?
- Gene therapy injection aims to treat dry AMD
- AI eye scanner could catch retina disease earlier
- Bionic implant shows promise for restoring sight in dry AMD