Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive and degenerative disorder of the macula. In advanced stages, it is characterized by the formation of areas of geographic atrophy or fibrous scars in the central macula, which determines irreversible loss of central vision. These patients can benefit from visual rehabilitation programmes with acoustic “biofeedback” mechanisms that can instruct the patient to move fixation from the central degenerated macular area to an adjacent healthy area, with a reorganization of the primary visual cortex. In this prospective, comparative, non-randomized study we evaluated the efficacy of visual rehabilitation with an innovative acoustic biofeedback training system based on visual evoked potentials (VEP) real-time examination (Retimax Vision Trainer, CSO, Florence), in a series of patients with advanced AMD compared to a control group. Patients undergoing training were subjected to ten consecutive visual training sessions of 10 min each, performed twice a week. Patients in the control group did not receive any training. VEP biofeedback rehabilitation seems to improve visual acuity, reading performances, contrast sensitivity, retinal fixation and sensitivity and quality of life in AMD patients.
Highlights
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive and degenerative disorder of the macula
Twenty-four patients (11 males and 13 females, 11 right eyes and 13 left eyes) with advanced AMD were included in the study
Fifteen patients were available for training and were enrolled into the training group and 9 patients were unavailable for training and were enrolled into the control group
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive and degenerative disorder of the macula In advanced stages, it is characterized by the formation of areas of geographic atrophy or fibrous scars in the central macula, which determines irreversible loss of central vision. It is characterized by the formation of areas of geographic atrophy or fibrous scars in the central macula, which determines irreversible loss of central vision These patients can benefit from visual rehabilitation programmes with acoustic “biofeedback” mechanisms that can instruct the patient to move fixation from the central degenerated macular area to an adjacent healthy area, with a reorganization of the primary visual cortex. Biofeedback rehabilitation programs can be performed with microperimetry or with visual evoked potentials (VEP) real-time analysis
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