| Micro Current Stimulation (MCS) Therapy | | | | as measured with the standard Snellen visual |
| Micro Current Stimulation (MCS) Therapy is | | | | acuity chart. |
| perhaps the most promising treatment currently | | | | Why Doesn't My Optometrist or Ophthalmologist |
| being investigated for dry age-related macular | | | | Know About MCS Therapy? |
| degeneration. It is a non surgical procedure which | | | | The majority of eye doctors in practice today |
| involves stimulating the macula and nerve fibers | | | | were told that macular degeneration was an |
| with a very low intensity current using a FDA | | | | untreatable disease and that nothing could be |
| approved battery operated device. The current is | | | | done to restore a damaged retina to a healthier |
| delivered at different electrical frequencies through | | | | state. It is also interesting to note that most of |
| electrodes applied over closed eyelids. The | | | | the doctors in practice today were also trained to |
| treatment causes no discomfort or pain and is | | | | believe that nutritional supplements were a waste |
| administered twice each day. While a very | | | | of time and money. After 20 years, they have |
| effective form of treatment, MCS Therapy is not | | | | finally admitted they were wrong regarding |
| a cure for macular degeneration and must be | | | | vitamins. Medicine, as a profession, is slow to |
| continued for the life of the patient. Overall, no | | | | change or admit its mistakes. |
| side effects or adverse reactions related to this | | | | Micro current stimulation therapy is currently |
| procedure have been observed. Micro Current | | | | viewed by most doctors the way vitamin |
| Stimulation technology has advanced to the point | | | | supplements were viewed 20 years ago, as an |
| where individuals can learn to apply their own | | | | "unconventional" therapy. While small studies have |
| Micro Current Stimulation therapy with a home | | | | been published in the literature showing the |
| unit. In many cases, a patient undergoing MCS | | | | effectiveness of MCS Therapy, admittedly, there |
| Therapy will experience an improvement in vision | | | | have not been any large-scale scientific studies |
| in as little as four days. For individuals with a more | | | | published in the traditional journals. These |
| severe form of the disease it may take several | | | | large-scale studies are what most doctors depend |
| months. | | | | on to guide them in their recommendations to |
| Human cells are not unlike batteries. They | | | | patients. |
| sometimes have low energy stores or are unable | | | | Several large scale studies are either underway or |
| to hold energy. Micro Current Stimulation Therapy | | | | are currently being developed and they should |
| provides the cells with the "energy" it needs, | | | | prove MCS Therapy's effectiveness once and for |
| similar to recharging a battery. Studies have also | | | | all. However, it will take 2 - 4 years and millions of |
| shown that MCS Therapy increases | | | | dollars in research funds to complete the studies. |
| microcirculatory blood flow, increases ATP | | | | In the interim, there is no reason that this option |
| concentrations and stimulates amino acid and | | | | should be withheld from patients. The early |
| nutrient concentrations into cells. | | | | reports are showing positive results in 65 to 90 |
| Every living cell in the body has an electrical | | | | percent of patients treated, there are no known |
| charge. It is theorized that part of what causes | | | | side effects or contraindications, the treatment is |
| macular degeneration is a loss of the energy | | | | relatively inexpensive, and there is no alternative |
| source in the cell, or loss of the electrical charge. | | | | treatment. Why should a patient with an |
| Just like a flashlight will not work without a | | | | otherwise "incurable" disease not try this option? |
| charged battery, the photoreceptors in the retina | | | | Scientific Facts For Doctors On MCS Therapy ... |
| will not function without an energy source. MCS | | | | How Does MCS Therapy Work? |
| Therapy is believed to increase the energy source | | | | MCS Therapy works by increasing intracellular |
| within the cell. | | | | ATP (adenosine triphosphate) concentrations, |
| The Macular Degeneration Foundation determined | | | | enhancing protein synthesis, and stimulating the |
| in preliminary pre-clinical trials by pioneering | | | | cells ability to absorb nutrients (Ngok Cheng, M.D.). |
| ophthalmologists and researchers that micro | | | | It is theorized that through these mechanisms, |
| current stimulation therapy can improve visual | | | | MCS Therapy improves RPE efficiency and |
| acuity, sharpness and color perception in 68 | | | | thereby may restore and/or improve macular |
| percent of patients with dry macular degeneration | | | | function. |
| and 58 percent of those with the wet form. | | | | ATP is synthesized in the mitochondria process |
| Reports from Russia suggest similar benefits. | | | | known as the Kreb's Cycle, the sequence of |
| A study published by Dr. Merrell J. Allen and Dr. | | | | reactions in the mitochondria that complete the |
| Leland D. Michael entitled Nutritional | | | | oxidation of glucose in respiration. Kroll and |
| Supplementation, Electrical Stimulation and Age | | | | Guerrieri have shown age related changes in |
| Related Macular Degeneration showed that 60 | | | | mitochondrial metabolism resulting in a decrease |
| percent of patients showed an improvement in | | | | of the ATP synthase activity. Guerrieri has gone |
| visual acuity following a combination of micro | | | | further to show functional and structural |
| current stimulation therapy and nutritional | | | | differences of the mitochondria F0F1 ATP |
| supplementation. | | | | synthase complex in aging rats. It is theorized that |
| Drs. Grace Halloran and August L. Reader studied | | | | many retinal diseases, at least in part, is due to a |
| thirty individuals diagnosed with typically | | | | decrease in mitochondria function and the |
| untreatable eye diseases including macular | | | | subsequent decrease in intracellular ATP. This |
| degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, CMV-retinitis, | | | | decrease in mitochondria function results from |
| and diabetic retinopathy. The patients were | | | | free radical damage and the mutation of mtDNA |
| treated with a combination of micro current | | | | (mitochondria DNA). |
| stimulation therapy and nutritional supplementation. | | | | It is interesting to note the genetic link between |
| Overall results showed remarkable increase in | | | | ATP and retinal disease. ATP Synthase (ATPase) |
| visual function in visual acuity in most and clearly | | | | is an enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of |
| established the safety of the combination of MCS | | | | ATP. A genetic defect in the ATPase 6 Gene has |
| therapy and nutritional supplementation. | | | | now been implicated in Retinitis Pigmentosa. |
| Frequently Asked Questions About MCSTherapy ... | | | | What Is The Difference Between The Micro |
| How Does MCS(TM) Therapy Work? | | | | Current Simulator And Other Devices On The |
| In general, the electrical current gently wakes up | | | | Market? |
| the cells from sleep and stimulates the healing | | | | Research by Cheng demonstrated a very |
| process. Simply put, cells are like batteries. When | | | | significant difference between the types of |
| the energy level runs low or runs out, the light | | | | electrical stimulators known as TENS devices and |
| goes out. MCS Therapy replaces the electrical | | | | those classified as micro current stimulators. The |
| charge within the cells of the eye to promote | | | | research showed that by treating with currents |
| healing and regeneration. | | | | below 1000 micro Amps (less than 1 milli Amp), |
| The second way the therapy works is to boost | | | | there was a 75% higher amino acid uptake and |
| the cells' ability to rid themselves of waste | | | | up to a 400% increase in intracellular ATP |
| products. A cell with "stuck" waste products | | | | concentrations. In those treated with more than |
| becomes a dead cell and interferes with cellular | | | | 1000 micro Amps (more than 1 milli Amp), there |
| communication throughout the area where it is | | | | were actually depressed levels of these |
| located. Cells need to take in nutrients and | | | | substances, often less than the non-treated |
| eliminate waste like all other living organisms. The | | | | controls. It is critically important to note that the |
| energy supplied by MCS Therapy stimulates the | | | | less expensive TENS devices do not treat in the |
| cells to become vital and less sluggish. | | | | safe and effective milli amp range and treat at |
| The third way MCS Therapy works is by | | | | much higher levels, some as high as 80 milli Amps. |
| increasing blood supply to the area stimulated. By | | | | This is dangerous and can potentially deplete |
| increasing blood flow to the area cells and tissues | | | | intracellular ATP and shut down the Kreb's Cycle, |
| are nourished, refreshed and oxygenation is | | | | having the reverse effect of MCS(TM) Therapy. |
| increased. | | | | A micro current stimulator has 10 times the |
| Is MCS Therapy Safe? | | | | circuitry of a standard therapeutic electrical |
| No side effects or adverse outcomes related to | | | | stimulator and is regulated to prevent treatment |
| this treatment have been seen. No increase in the | | | | above the safe milli amp range. Furthermore, |
| conversion to the wet form of AMD has been | | | | make sure any device that you may use is FDA |
| seen to those who have been treated. | | | | approved. Many on the market are not. |
| What Is The Treatment Like? | | | | What Is The Legal Status Of MCS Therapy With |
| MCS Therapy can be administered in a doctors | | | | The FDA? |
| office or through a home treatment unit. Even if | | | | In the United States, the Food and Drug |
| you start your therapy in a doctors office, | | | | Administration (FDA) regulates the sale of medical |
| continued therapy with a home treatment unit is | | | | devices (an example is the use of the lasers used |
| necessary in order to retain any vision | | | | for LASIK surgery). Before a medical device can |
| improvement and to keep AMD from getting | | | | be legally sold in the U.S., the person or company |
| worse. | | | | that wants to sell the device must seek approval |
| After learning how to self-administer treatment, | | | | from the FDA. To gain approval, they must |
| you will perform treatment in the convenience of | | | | present evidence that the device is reasonably |
| your home with the home treatment unit. This is | | | | safe and effective for a particular use, the |
| easy to learn and apply. Once starting with the | | | | "indication." Micro current stimulators were |
| treatments you will need to continue with | | | | generally approved for the following indication: the |
| treatments twice daily. Each treatment takes 6 - | | | | symptomatic relief of chronic intractable pain and |
| 12 minutes. Those who have discontinued therapy | | | | as an adjunctive treatment in the management of |
| have had their vision deteriorate. | | | | post surgical traumatic pain problems. Once the |
| How Much Improvement In Vision Can I Expect | | | | FDA has approved a medical device, a doctor |
| With MCS Therapy? | | | | may decide to use that device for other |
| The results have been remarkable, with over | | | | indications if the doctor feels it is in the best |
| 68% of the people treated with Dry AMD | | | | interest of a patient. The use of an approved |
| showing statistically significant improvement in one | | | | device for other than its FDA-approved indication |
| or both eyes and 58% of the people with Wet | | | | is called "off-label use." MCS Therapy is considered |
| AMD showing improvement. 52% of patients | | | | an "off-label use. |
| experience an improvement of two or more lines | | | | |