Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the efficacy of visual rehabilitation with biofeedback in glaucomatous optic atrophy, to give an exact definition of stability and fixation location (PRL) through precise monitoring with microperimetry Nidek MP-1.
Methods: :
20 patients (40 eyes) with advenced glaucoma was submitted to rehabilitation program that consisted of: a 25-item questionnaire (National Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire, NEI- VFQ-25); measurement of distant and near visual acuity (BCVA), microprimetry (MP-1 Nidek technologies, Padova, Italy) threshold strategy 4-2, Goldmann III stimolus with fixation study and retinal sensitivity to search scotomatose areas and to locate PRL (preferred retinal locus), Reading Speed Test (words/minute), 10 training sessions a week with MP-1 biofeedback, 30 minutes for each eye, repeated after 4 months and 8 months. At the end of the training, microperimetry was repeated with follow-up mode, fixation test, visual acuity for near and far and reading speed test. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t-test. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: :
At the end of rehabilitation protocol has reported an increase in the stability of fixation points between 2 ° and 4 °, and fixation became from relatively stable or unstable to stable fixation with p values statistically significant (p = 0.0271).The mean retinal sensitivity in the central 30 degrees was increased (p = 0.0473), as well as the speed reading: speed reading became from 31.4 words / minute to 55.6 words / minute and these results were statistically significant (p = 0.0498). Even visual acuity for far and near were improved and results were statistically significant (p = 0.0352).
Conclusions: :
Our results show that rehabilitation with biofeedback microperimetry is a useful means to improve the fixation stability of patients with advanced glaucoma, to stabilize PRL and to increase visual acuity improving the patient quality of life.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • perimetry