Effect of Visual Retraining on Visual Loss Following Visual Cortical Damage

Summary

This project is intended to collect data using standard clinical tests and psychophysics to quantify the effect of visual cortical damage on the structure of the residual visual system, visual perception, spatial awareness, and brain function. The investigators will also assess the effect of intensive visual retraining on the residual visual system, processing of visual information and the use of such information in real-world situations following damage. This research is intended to improve our understanding of the consequences of permanent visual system damage in humans, of methods that can be used to reverse visual loss, and of brain mechanisms by which visual recovery is achieved.

Conditions

• Vision Loss Partial
• Hemianopia
• Hemianopia Homonymous
• Quadrantanopia
• Stroke, Ischemic

Interventions

OTHER

Training in the Blind Field

A computer software and chin-rest necessary to perform visual training will be loaned to each subject to be used at home. Subjects will perform one to two daily training sessions in their home, consisting of 200-300 trials each. The visual task performed repetitively will involve discriminating the direction of motion, the presence of motion, or the orientation of a visual stimulus (either a small cloud of dots or bars) located at a predetermined location in the blind field. The computer program will automatically create a record of patient performance during each home training session. Subjects will train daily (about 40-60 minutes total), 5 to 7 days per week for at least 3 and up to 12 months at a time.

OTHER

Training in the Sighted Field

This training will take place in lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Subject will perform one daily training session, consisting of 200-300 trials each. The visual task performed repetitively will involve discriminating the direction of motion, the presence of motion, or the orientation of a visual stimulus (either a small cloud of dots or bars) located at a predetermined location in the visual field. The computer program will automatically create a record of patient performance during each training session. Subjects will train daily (about 30-40 minutes total), 5 to 7 days per week for at 7 - 14 days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Eye Institute (NEI)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Rochester

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

17 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2003-09-26

Primary Completion

2024-06-04

Completion

2024-06-04

Countries

• United States

Study Locations