Abstract
Purpose :
Biofeedback training (BT) improves oculomotor control and was never used before in patients with hemianopia post-brain injury. This study analyzes the impact of BT on visual functions and quality of life (QoL) on this population.
Methods :
This is a prospective controlled randomized study. The control group did baseline and 1week control measures using a MAIA microperimeter (Centervue, Padova, Italy). Control group patients crossed over to the treated group. Retinal sensitivity, 20" fixation stability (BCEA 63%), reading speed, QoL Massof questionnaire, contrast sensitivity, ETDRS visual acuity (BCVA) and stereopsis were the outcomes. For the treated group, 5 BT weekly sessions of 20' were delivered. BT displaced the visual fields in 10. Outcome measures were repeated 1 week after BT.
Results :
6 subjects were studied. The average age was 67.5 (± 18.46). 3 patients were in the control group, 2 crossed over, and 5 patients were in the treated group. The control and treatment groups were not significantly different in demographics. 50% were female. Brain injury was from stroke in 4 patients, brain tumor 1, and encephalitis in 1. Time post injury was 9.6 ± 7.7 months. In the treated group, post-BT showed for the BCEA 63% an improvement from 0.72 (± 0.4) to 0.34 s02 (± 0.3), p=0.037. QoL showed a significant improvement in visual ability from 0.79 (± 2) to 1.8(± 1.6) p=0.009, reading from 2 (± 2.3) to 3.9 (± 1.5) p=0.02, mobility from -0.2 (± 2.7) to 0.36 (± 2.6) p=0.02, and visual information from 1.2 (± 1.7) to 2.2 (± 1.2) p=0.04. BCVA in the treated eye increased from 0.2 (± 0.2) to 0.1(± 0.08), contrast sensitivity from 1.76 (± 0.25) to 1.87 logMar (± 0.10), reading speed from 106.9 (± 61.6) to 138.8 wpm (± 60.3), and stereopsis from 918 (± 1204) to 708” (± 1291). Retinal sensitivity improved from 16.4 (± 3.4) to 17.2 (± 4). In the control group, outcomes did not change from baseline to control measures.
Conclusions :
A significant improvement was noticed in their QoL on visual ability, reading skills, mobility, and visual information post-BT. Oculomotor functions improvement may be involved in this mechanism, as the fixation stability improved significantly. All the variables showed a trend for improvement post-BT.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.