Brain stimulation trial hopes to restore sight in glaucoma patients
NCT ID NCT07145073
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to the brain (called rtACS) can wake up damaged eye cells and improve vision in people with glaucoma. 188 adults with moderate to advanced glaucoma will receive either real or sham stimulation for 10 days. The main goal is to see if their visual field (side vision) gets better after treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- repetitive transcranial alternating current stimulation (rtACS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new, non-invasive way to improve vision and slow damage in people with glaucoma.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage study with no phase, so results are uncertain. The treatment is short-term and may not produce lasting benefits. Risks from brain stimulation are possible but typically mild.
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 188 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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: 1. Participant must be at least 18. 2. Clinical diagnosis of glaucoma, with Humphrey Visual Field 24-2 mean deviation (MD) between -22 dB and -5 dB, and Visual Field Index (VFI) between 10% and 90%. The visual field test at screening must meet the following reliability indices: * Fixation losses (FL) ≤ 33% * False-negative rate (FNR) ≤ 20% * False-positive rate (FPR) ≤ 20% At initial screening, the difference in MD between two consecutive visual field tests must be less than 2 dB. 3. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥ 0.2 in the worse eye selected for stimulation treatment. 4. If a participant has two eyes meeting study criteria, one eye will be randomly selected by computer for study participation. 5. In the opinion of the investigator the participant's eye pressure must be clinically stable. 6. Participant must has the ability to comply with the requirements of the study and complete the schedule of events. 7. Participant must understand and sign the informed consent. If the participant's vision is impaired to the point where he/she cannot read the informed consent document, the document will be read to the participant in its entirety. 8. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging shows measurable changes in either peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness or macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness. Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of ocular herpes. 2. Pathological nystagmus. 3. Retinal disease sufficient to affect vision. 4. Corneal opacity affecting vision. 5. Cataract affecting vision. 6. Uveitis or other intraocular inflammatory disease. 7. Implanted electronic devices such as a pacemaker. 8. Rheumatologic or autoimmune disease. 9. Brain tumor or intracranial magnetic metallic implants. 10. History of epilepsy. 11. Periocular skin lesions. 12. Anxiety with Geriatric Anxiety Scale score \> 12. 13. History of claustrophobia. 14. Participation in another clinical trial within the past 3 months involving medication or training that could affect the eyes. 15. Physical or mental conditions that may increase the risk of participation or interfere with study assessments (e.g., dementia). 16. Previous ocular electrical stimulation treatment or visual training study within the past 12 months. 17. Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes. 18. Pregnant or breastfeeding. 19. History of craniotomy, burr hole surgery, head trauma, intracranial tumor, vascular malformation, or intracranial surgery.
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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
1 site. 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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National Taiwan University Hospital
RECRUITINGTaipei, Hawaii, 100, Taiwan
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