Treatment With Visual PathFinder in a Child Affected by Bilateral Corioretinal Coloboma

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: to evaluate the effect of treatment with Visual Pathfinder (VPF) in a child affected by bilateral corioretinal coloboma. Methods: a child, six years old, affected by bilateral corioretinal coloboma underwent to a complete ophthalmologic examination. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye and of the left eye was light perception and 20/100, respectively. The anterior segment was normal. The fundus oculi examination revealed a bilateral corioretinal coloboma. The right eye showed a total coloboma of the optic disc; the excavation that extended inferiorly was involving the adjacent choroid and retina. The examination of the left eye disclosed a little coloboma located inferiorly to the optic disc. The axial length of the right eye and of the left eye was 19.04 mm and 19.81 mm respectively. The patient underwent to a VPF training of 20 minutes each, twice a week, for 12 sessions. The VPF is a biofeedback system in which the patients look at a monitor TV and the consequent pattern visual evocated potential (VEP) flicker guides the patients to maintain and improve the visual fixation. Results: after six weeks of treatment with Visual Pathfinder the visual acuity in the left eye was 20/40. No changes was observed at the ophthalmological examination after VPF treatment. Conclusion: the improvement of the visual acuity in so severe corioretinal disorder may suggest a new approach in the rehabilitative treatment with VPF. Furthermore investigations are necessary to confirm this preliminary report.

Keywords: amblyopia • visual development: infancy and childhood • visual acuity