The scientific rationale for the use of electroneurostimulation of the cervical sympathetic ganglia in patients with computer vision syndrome

Abstract

Was a scientific justification, an assessment of the effectiveness and safety of the use of electroneurostimulation (ENS) of the cervical sympathetic ganglia in patients with CVS. 120 patients with the syndrome observed on an outpatient basis were examined. Patients were divided into 3 groups using simple randomization method. The 1st group (the main group - MG) included 39 patients who, against the background of gymnastics of the oculomotor muscles and muscles of the shoulder girdle, used ENS on the area of the sympathetic ganglia; in the 2nd group (group of comparison - GoC) included 41 patients who strictly performed the same muscle gymnastics (after every 2 hours of work with the PC); Group 3 (control group - CG) consisted of 40 patients who took an ENS course of exposure in placebo mode. In the dynamics, the stock of relative accommodation, near heterophory, tear production, threshold electrical sensitivity of the retina, electrolability of the optic nerve, contrast sensitivity, reading speed, print speed and accuracy and the level of subjective asthenopia were evaluated. Initially, groups of patients with CVS did not differ among themselves in any of the investigated parameters. After a course of procedures in the MG, in contrast to the other two (GoC and CG), statistically significant positive shifts were revealed in relation to the selected endpoints, reflecting the severity of asthenopia, sensorineural, accommodative and oculomotor functions of the visual analyzer, as well as ophthalmoergonomics. Of the side effects of the procedures were recorded: moderate drowsiness (in 4 patients), a feeling of heaviness of the head (in 1 patient) and an increase in blood pressure (BP) by more than 15% of the initial (in 1 patient). They disappeared on their own and did not require withdrawal of treatment. A patient who noted a single increase in blood pressure subsequently received therapy every other day. Redness of the skin of the neck in the area of application of the electrodes was found with the same frequency in MG and CG. The inclusion of ENS in the rehabilitation treatment of workers professionally using a personal computer significantly increases the effectiveness of therapeutic measures, which proves the appropriateness of applying the proposed technology in CVS. The therapeutic action of complex therapy is realized through the effect of the ENS on an important reflexogenic zone - the cervical sympathetic ganglia, the activation of which ensures the normalization of the central, peripheral and autonomic functioning of the visual analyzer. Analysis of the frequency of registration of side effects in patients of the three groups allows us to conclude that the technique is safe.