Treatment of vision disorders using electrical, light, and/or sound energy

Abstract

A non-invasive ocular therapy for vision disorders is provided. First and second electrodes of a direct current source are electrically contacted so as to deliver current to and/or about an area proximal one or more eyes of a subject. A direct electrical current of between about 1-800 microamps, at a resistance assumption of about 500 ohms, is generated between the electrodes for a preselected duration. Preferably, the direct electrical current is generated at a select frequency profile as a function of time, and with a carrier signal of about 10,000-12,000 hertz. Advantageously, the subject therapy is augmented via application of light energy to the eye(s), as well as by the application of infrasonic sound waves directly into eyes.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . A non-invasive ocular therapy for vision disorders comprising: 
 a. electrically contacting a first electrode of a direct current source proximal an eye of a subject;    b. electrically contacting a second electrode of the direct current source to the subject; and,    c. causing an amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signal to pass from one of said electrodes to another of said electrodes, said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signal being characterized by a polarity inversion.    
   
   
       31 . The therapy of  claim 30  wherein said polarity inversion is constant.  
   
   
       32 . The therapy of  claim 30  wherein said polarity inversion is periodic.  
   
   
       33 . The therapy of  claim 30  wherein the pulsed carrier signal of said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signal is amplitudinally modulated by a preselect frequency profile sequence.  
   
   
       34 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises at least two unique frequencies.  
   
   
       35 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises at least three unique frequencies.  
   
   
       36 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises at least four unique frequencies.  
   
   
       37 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises a frequency in a range of about 250-300 Hz.  
   
   
       38 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises a frequency in a range of about 25-35 Hz.  
   
   
       39 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises a frequency in a range of about 7-10 Hz.  
   
   
       40 . The therapy of  claim 33  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence comprises a frequency in a range of about 0.15-0.3 Hz.  
   
   
       41 . The therapy of  claim 40  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence further comprises a frequency in a range of about 25-35 Hz.  
   
   
       42 . The therapy of  claim 41  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence further comprises a frequency in a range of about 7-10 Hz.  
   
   
       43 . The therapy of  claim 42  wherein a frequency of said preselected frequency profile sequence further comprises a frequency in a range of about 0.15-0.3 Hz.  
   
   
       44 . The therapy of  claim 30  further comprising select application of spectral components of visible light to an eye of the subject.  
   
   
       45 . The therapy of  claim 44  wherein spectral components of visible light of said select application of spectral components of visible light are selected from the group consisting of blue, green, yellow and red spectral components.  
   
   
       46 . The therapy of  claim 45  wherein said select application of spectral components of visible light comprises a sequential delivery of at least two spectral components of visible light.  
   
   
       47 . The therapy of  claim 44  further comprising select application of infrasonic sound waves to the eye of the subject.  
   
   
       48 . The therapy of  claim 30  further comprising select application of infrasonic sound waves to the eye of the subject.  
   
   
       49 . The therapy of  claim 48  wherein said infrasonic sound waves are characterized by frequencies in a range from about 8-14 Hz.  
   
   
       50 . An ocular therapy for vision disorders comprising directing an inverted pulsed carrier signal through a vision disorder subject, said inverted pulsed carrier signal being amplitudinally modulated by a preselect frequency sequence.  
   
   
       51 . The ocular therapy of  claim 50  wherein said preselect frequency sequence comprises up to four discrete amplitude modulating frequencies.  
   
   
       52 . The ocular therapy of  claim 51  wherein said up to four discrete amplitude modulating frequencies includes those selected from a range of about either 250-300 Hz, 25-35 Hz, 7-10 Hz, and/or 0.15-0.3 Hz.  
   
   
       53 . The ocular therapy of  claim 50  wherein said preselect frequency sequence comprises a first frequency in a range of about 250-300 Hz.  
   
   
       54 . The ocular therapy of  claim 53  wherein said preselect frequency sequence comprises a second frequency in a range of about 25-35 Hz.  
   
   
       55 . The ocular therapy of  claim 54  wherein said preselect frequency sequence comprises a third frequency in a range of about 7-10 Hz.  
   
   
       56 . The ocular therapy of  claim 55  wherein said preselect frequency sequence comprises a fourth frequency in a range of about 0.15-0.3 Hz.  
   
   
       57 . The ocular therapy of  claim 50  further comprising select application of either of blue, green, yellow or red components of visible light to an eye of the vision disorder subject.  
   
   
       58 . The ocular therapy of  claim 57  further comprising select application of infrasonic sound waves to the eye of the vision disorder subject.  
   
   
       59 . The ocular therapy of  claim 50  further comprising select application of infrasonic sound waves to an eye of the vision disorder subject.  
   
   
       60 . An apparatus for delivery of non-invasive ocular therapy for vision disorders comprising a head supportable structure equipped with an electrode and means for selectively delivering one or more spectral components of visible light to an eye of a wearer of the head supportable structure, said head supportable structure adapted to pass an amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signal to/from said electrode, said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signal being characterized by a polarity inversion.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 51  wherein said head supportable structure further includes means for selectively emitting infrasonic sound waves into the eye of a wearer of the head supportable structure.