Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40119237›Full record

SynthesisNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2025

Non-invasive brain stimulation for treating visual defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ahmed W Abbas, Heba Aboeldahab, Mohamed Abo Zeid, Amr K Hassan, Mahmoud Diaa Hindawi, Amr Elrosasy, Safia Lorabi, Yousef Hawas, Benyameen Safwat

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
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In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ahmed W AbbasFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. dr.ahmedw1267hh@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3451-8580
Heba AboeldahabClinical Research Department, El-Gomhoria General Hospital, MOHP, Alexandria, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9837-1763
Mohamed Abo ZeidFaculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-8165-9470
Amr K HassanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, South Valley, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8281-9268
Mahmoud Diaa HindawiFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3085-6665
Amr ElrosasyFaculty of Medicine Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5592-3908
Safia LorabiFaculty of Medicine, Algiers University, Alger Centre, Algeria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-5425-7564
Yousef HawasFaculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0361-4609
Benyameen SafwatFaculty of Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-1799-3852

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWe evaluated the efficacy of applying repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rTACS) to patients suffering from visual defects, especially homonymous hemianopia.

backgroundStroke or optic neuropathy would result in vision loss or Visual field defect (VFD) and homonymous hemianopia. Recently, one of the commonly used procedures to relieve VFD is non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS).

methodsA comprehensive search covering publications in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus, spanning until September 2023 was performed. Relevant Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected, and their data were extracted and analyzed. Pooled mean difference (MD) was calculated for change in the high-resolution perimetry detection accuracy (HRP DA) and fixation accuracy (HRP FA), static automated perimetry foveal threshold (SAP FT), and visual acuity (VA) of near vision outcomes.

resultsWe pooled in our analysis 4 RCTs. Compared to the sham group, rTACS patients had a significantly higher HRP DA (SMD = 0.35; 95% CI [0.003,0.694] P = 0.048). However, the analysis did not favor any of the compared groups in HRP FA, SAP FT, VA of near vision, and mean threshold (SMD = 0.14; 95% CI [-0.21,0.48] P = 0.43], (SMD = 0.17; 95% CI [-0.11,0.45] P = 0.23), (SMD = 0.32; 95%CI [-0.24,0.88] P = 0.26), and (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI [-0.04,0.65] P = 0.08) respectively.

conclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that rTACS exhibits a promising approach in homonymous hemianopia patients, where it significantly increased HRP DA. Despite the results' failure to attain statistical significance in some outcomes, it underscores the necessity for larger RCTs with longer follow-up periods.

Indexed as

Electric Stimulation TherapyHemianopsiaTranscranial Direct Current StimulationVision DisordersHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicVisual FieldsVisual Field TestsBrain stimulationFixation accuracyHomonymous hemianopiaVisual field defect

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.