Effectiveness of Low Vision Rehabilitation Using Microperimetric Acoustic Biofeedback Training in Patients with Central Scotoma.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the efficacy of visual rehabilitation with microperimeter biofeedback in patients with central scotoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

35 consecutive patients with central scotoma (17 age-related macular degeneration (AMD), 14 Stargardt disease, and 4 cone dystrophy) were included in the study. Visual acuity, reading performance by Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test (MNREAD), quality of life by 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), and fixation analysis by MAIA microperimeter were evaluated before and 1 month after training. The rehabilitation program consisted of 10 training sessions of 10 minutes.

RESULTS:

The median best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.80 logMAR (range 0.3 to 1.3 logMAR). Fifty-nine percent of patients with AMD developed a preferred retinal locus (PRL) nasal to the fovea, and 64% of the patients with Stargardt disease preferred a PRL superior to the fovea. The PRL location in 3 of 4 cone dystrophy patients was nasal to the fovea. The mean PRL distance from the fovea was 7.57 ± 3.61 degrees. Fixation stability improved with P1 values of 22.34 ± 11.81 versus 32.05 ± 18.79 (p = .003) and 95% bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) values of 41.6 versus 23.6 (p = .018) before and after training, respectively. There was a significant difference in reading acuity between before and after training (p = 0.008). The overall score and near activities score of NEI VFQ-25 were found to be increased at the end of the rehabilitation (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Rehabilitation with acoustic biofeedback in patients with central scotoma looks like a useful technique for improving fixation stability, reading performance and quality of life.

• Authors: Esra Sahli, Deniz Altinbay, Pınar Bingol Kiziltunc, Aysun Idil
• Journal: Current eye research (Curr Eye Res) Vol. 46 Issue 5 Pg. 731-738 (05 2021) ISSN: 1460-2202 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33073619 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Acoustic Stimulation
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biofeedback, Psychology (methods)
• Child
• Cone Dystrophy (complications)
• Female
• Fixation, Ocular (physiology)
• Humans
• Macular Degeneration (complications)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Reading
• Scotoma (etiology, physiopathology, therapy)
• Stargardt Disease (complications)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome
• Vision, Low (rehabilitation)
• Visual Acuity (physiology)
• Visual Field Tests (methods)
• Visual Fields (physiology)