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

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 ( = .003) and 95% bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) values of 41.6 versus 23.6 ( = .018) before and after training, respectively. There was a significant difference in reading acuity between before and after training ( = 0.008). The overall score and near activities score of NEI VFQ-25 were found to be increased at the end of the rehabilitation ( < 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.