Toward Non-Invasive Electrical Stimulation for Guided Optic Nerve Regeneration

Abstract

The optic nerve plays a critical role in visual information processing by relaying signals from the retina to the brain. Diseases affecting the optic nerve, such as glaucoma, can severely impair vision due to the nerve’s limited capacity for self-repair. One promising approach to promote nerve regeneration involves the use of electric fields to guide axonal growth. Our previous research demonstrated that an electric field applied to the crushed adult rat optic nerve directed full-length axon regeneration and mediated partial restoration of visual function. While effective, this technique involves placing electrodes in direct contact with the optic nerve, posing challenges, including the need for skilled surgeons and the potential for tissue damage during implantation. Leveraging computer simulations and ex-vivo cadaveric measurements, the work in this paper explores noninvasive methods for generating electric fields along the optic nerve. Results show the promise of computational models to correctly estimate the electric fields induced along the optic nerve, providing a platform for designing optimal stimulation systems that will generate fields known to foster axonal growth.