Abstract
Abstract: :
Purposes: Visual training is a biofeedback based stimulation device that has dramatically improved rehabilitation outcome and consequently the quality of vision in impaired patients. In previous papers we described data on increase of VEP amplitude in RP patients and of visual acuity and VEP amplitude in Evoluted AMD with successfully results in both groups of patients. Patients and methods: We tried to evaluate which parameter of sight may be positively influenced by Visual Training, and to what percentage. To do this we have compared the reading speed and reading cohefficient registered before and after visual rehabilitation in two groups A e B of 30 low vision patients each, affected by evoluted retinal or neural optic pathology. Group A underwent to conventional visual rehabilitation by using only visual aids along with reading and writing exercises; Group B was treated before the first rehabilitation treatment using the visual training, as described in our previous report, for 10 weekly sessions. Both groups have on an average similar characteristics: age (Group A: 59 aa. Group B: 60 aa.), BCVA (Group A: 0,2. Group B: 0,2), residual near visus (Group A: 28 cp Group B: 29 cp), magnification (Group A: 2,8 X Group B: 2,7 X), reading field (Group A: 6 word per reading field, Group B: 5 word per reading field), Initial reading speed (Group A: 59 words per minute Group B: 59 words per minute), Reading Cohefficient (Group A: 57 Group B: 56). Results: at the end of visual rehabilitation, the reading speed increases in Group A from 59 to 77 words per min., in group B from 59 to 85 words per min. Reading cohefficient increases in Group A from 57 to 76, in group B from 56 to 85. In conclusion the reading speed and reading cohefficient of Group B showed an increase from 14% (reading speed) to 18% (reading cohefficient) when compared with reading parameters of Group A of patients, at the end of rehabilitation. Conclusion: Neuroelectrical information can by–pass disfunctional retinal cells reaching indirectly visual cortex. Visual training, through reiterated stymuli, activates existing synapses, increases the identification of these stimuly allows the formation of new synapsis.Visual training contributes to the creation of neurovisual nets, causing an amplification of visual perception when compared with visual perception obtained with previous retinal conditions. According to the authors visual training optimizes the effects of rehabilitation and increases visual abilities in low vision patients.
Keywords: low vision • reading • retinal connections, networks, circuitry