The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Ocular Pain

Abstract

The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pain originating in the eye was studied in 10 patients. All three patients subjected to TENS during panretinal photocoagulation reported marked reduction in pain. Three of five patients who had persistent pain following scleral buckling and/or vitrectomy reported partial or complete relief of pain during the application of TENS. One patient had equivocal relief of pain when TENS was used during retinal cryopexy; 1 patient with acute pain following paracentesis and 1 patient with persistent pain following cyclocryotherapy had no relief. Among those patients whose pain was reduced by TENS, referred brow pain was relieved more than globe pain.