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Pilot study finds systematic vision stimulation may improve some visual field defects
Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2008;26(4-5): 403-412.
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Visual defects caused by retinal lesions appeared to improve after 6 months of computer-based systematic vision stimulation, a small study found.
The pilot study examined five patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who performed vision restoration training over a 6-month period. Patients underwent two 3-month blocks of training, separated by a 3-month block without training. The computer-based testing was performed with high-resolution perimetry and 30° and 70° white/white and 30° blue/yellow conventional automatic perimetry (Oculus Twinfield).
Researchers found that after the first 3 months of training, average detection performance was significantly increased in both high-resolution perimetry (P < .05) and in 30° white/white perimetry (P < .05). However, it was not increased in blue/yellow perimetry or in 70° white/white perimetry. Those areas included more peripheral, non-trained areas, according to the study authors.
Visual improvements were stable after the 3-month block without training. After the second 3 months of training, three patients had an increased ability to detect visual stimuli, but this was not a significant improvement.