A Study of Ear Nerve Stimulation to Treat Eye Inflammation

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• Ocular inflammatory condition-specifically, at least 1 eye with intra/subretinal fluid or both eyes with an inflammatory ocular surface condition
• Able to attend all study visits at approximately the same time of day (within a 3-h window)

For participants in the intra/subretinal fluid group:

• The presence of a natural crystalline lens or intraocular lens
• Pupils that can dilate to at least 3 mm in the study eye(s)
• The absence of opaque natural crystalline lenses or the presence of any ocular disease that prevents the view of the retina for imaging

Exclusion criteria

• Having or exhibiting any of the following:

• Evidence of active infection
• Chronically implanted electronic medical device, including pacemakers, defibrillators, cochlear implants, spinal stimulators, and vagus nerve stimulators
• Evidence of any skin condition at the stimulation site
• Untreated or poorly controlled psychiatric illness
• Evidence of significant neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, seizure, stroke, and dementia
• Low blood pressure, bradycardia, or hypoglycemia
• History of bleeding disorders, including sickle cell anemia, anemia syndromes, monocytosis, and thrombocytopenia
• History of vagotomy
• History of partial or complete splenectomy
• History of HIV infection or AIDS
• History of recurrent vasovagal syncope episodes
• Receipt of any of the following medications within 1 week of the first visit:

• Anticholinergic (Benadryl)
• Antihypertensive (α-methyldopa)
• Epinephrine-related drugs, norepinephrine-related drugs, and drugs that stimulate release of epinephrine and/or norepinephrine (Micronefrin, Asthmanefrin)
• Alpha and/or beta adrenoceptor blocking agents
• Antiseizure medications
• Other medications, supplements, etc. that may interfere with the study results
• Substance abuse (alcoholism or other) problem
• Consumption of alcohol within 1 day of a study visit
• Currently using or have used recreational drugs, tobacco, and/or nicotine products within 1 week of the first visit