Brain zaps may boost mobility in the visually impaired
NCT ID NCT07341763
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 6 times
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a gentle, non-invasive electrical current applied to the brain can improve how people with tunnel vision (from retinitis pigmentosa, rod-cone dystrophy, or advanced glaucoma) navigate obstacles. Twenty adults will receive both real and sham stimulation in random order, then walk an obstacle course to measure speed and detection distance. The goal is to see if this technique offers a short-term boost in orientation and mobility, informing a larger future trial.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- non-invasive brain stimulation (high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation, hf-tRNS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to help people with vision loss move around more safely and confidently.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study (20 people) testing only short-term effects. It may not show meaningful improvement, and any benefits might not last.
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 20 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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Aug 2027
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: * Are healthy, capacitated adults with binocular constricted visual field loss (due to either retinitis pigmentosa (RP), rod-cone dystrophy, or advanced glaucoma) resulting in functional vision losses. These individuals with visual impairments can be those who have been previously trained by an Orientation and Mobility (O\&M) specialist to independently travel with the long white cane daily (since the length of the white cane and tip at the base are based on personal preference, they should be willing to use their own white cane for the study), and those who do not necessarily use a cane for travelling. * Have binocular visual acuity or best corrected binocular visual acuity no worse than 6/12 or 20/40 or +0.30 logMAR (inclusive) with no eccentric viewing and binocular visual fields no better than 50 degrees in total in each eye as given by the Humphrey Field analyzer and no better than 50 degrees binocularly as given by arc perimeter test. The Humphrey Field Analyzer measures static visual field test, whereas the Arc perimeter test measures kinetic visual field test. Measuring kinetic and static visual field would promote a greater understanding of the individual's daily performance. * Are over the age of 18 (inclusive) and has full legal capacity to provide informed consent. * Have read and fully comprehends the information in the consent letter. * Are willing and capable of adhering to instructions and maintaining the outlined appointment schedule. Exclusion Criteria: * Are involved in other recent eye-related studies, either clinical or research-related. To be eligible they would have to wait at least one week for studies not involving brain stimulation, and four weeks for studies in which they receive brain stimulation before they could participate in this study. * Have been diagnosed with dementia or self-reported dementia with no formal diagnosis. * Have been diagnosed with a cognitive impairment or self-reported cognitive impairment with no formal diagnosis. * Have been diagnosed with physical or motor impairments resulting in walking and/or balancing issues or self-reported physical or motor impairments resulting in walking and/or balancing issues with no formal diagnosis. * Have been diagnosed with vestibular disorders or dysfunctions which affects one's balance and/or mobility or self-reported vestibular disorders or dysfunctions which affects one's balance and/or mobility with no formal diagnosis. * Are unable to follow the researcher's instructions. * Are anticipating treatment (including ocular surgery) for any eye disease within the duration of the study. * Have any ocular pathology in addition to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), rod-cone dystrophy, or advanced glaucoma, which can diminish their visual acuity and/or their visual field, however wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as mild cataract of grade 2 or below is acceptable. * Have severe hearing impairment. * Are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. * Fit any of the typical contraindicators for brain stimulation. See contraindicator section below. For all participants the contraindications for brain stimulation are: * Diagnosed with epilepsy or have previously experienced an epileptic seizure. * Implanted medication pump or implanted electronic device, including defibrillator or pacemaker. * Any metal implants in the head (excluding tooth fillings). * Active electric implants anywhere in the body (especially the head region). * On psychoactive medication for any psychiatric or neurological conditions including but not limited to depression and schizophrenia. * Areas of sensitive skin located on the face or head, or a skin condition on the face, or regularly use medication to alleviate skin irritation on the face. * Recurring headaches. * Previous head injury or skull fracture or head/brain surgery. * Heart disease, neurological condition, or a history of cardiac or neurological surgery. * Current or historical cancerous or noncancerous brain tumor, or other abnormalities in brain structure.
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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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University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science
RECRUITINGWaterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
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