Functional recovery of retina after photo stress is accelerated by transcranial cerebellar stimulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Background: The characteristics of visual evoked potentials (VEP) have been studied in diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy. Material and methods: The magnetic impulses (2.0 Tl at the height of impulse) have been delivered to the cerebellar surface trans-cranially, using Neuro-MS/D, (Russian Federation), and the VEP have been registered every 20 seconds from the moment of the photo stress during one minute. Results: An increase of the latency period and a reduction of the VEP amplitude have been recorded in the period following the exposure of the macular part of the retina to the photo stress. The VEP characteristics have been restored to the initial level at 74.3 + 3.1 seconds from the photo stress moment in the control group, while in the diabetic patients with and without retinopathy this index has been 131.7 + 10.2 and 86.5 + 5.5 seconds respectively. In the presence of cerebellar trans-cranial magnetic stimulations (2.0 Тl, 40 impulses) the VEP amplitude depression has been less pronounced, and the restoration period of the VEP characteristics shortened to 90.5 + 6.8 seconds in the patients with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: 1. Retinopathy development is linked to a prolonged VEP latency period (P100), lowering N75-P100 amplitude, as well as to the enlargement of the recovery period of the retina’s functional capacity in patients suffering from the diabetes mellitus in the presence of photo stress. 2. The cerebellar trans-cranial magnetic stimulation facilitates a quicker recovery of the retina’s functional capacity in response to the photo stress in the diabetic patients with retinopathy. 3. The periodical cerebellar trans-cranial stimulations may be considered as a prevention method as well as a treatment method of diabetic retinopathy.