OcuDrain-E™—A noninvasive technique for reduction of intraocular pressure

OcuDrain-E™ is a noninvasive technique in which electrical pulses are applied across the cornea to enhance the rate of transcorneal water evaporation (TCWE). In vitro studies were carried out with rabbit cornea mounted on a Franz diffusion cell. Application of 30 pulses each of 1 millisecond (ms) duration at ≥40 V/cm2 decreased the corneal resistivity ∼80% indicating permeabilization of the cornea. The corneal resistivity was almost completely recovered within 6 h when the pulse voltage was <40 V/cm2. The average TCWE at 40 V/cm2 was significantly (∼39-fold) higher than the control (t-test, p < 0.0001). Application of electrical pulses (40 V–30 pulses–1 ms–1 Hz) across the cornea resulted in significant decrease in the intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbits. The electrical protocol was well tolerated by the rabbits. Microscopic studies revealed that the applied electrical protocol did not cause any edema or detachment of the epidermal layers. The results of current investigation suggest that OcuDrain-E™ could be developed as a potential technique for the treatment of glaucoma in patients who respond poorly to drugs.