Device improves vision in stroke patients

By Martha Kerr

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Health) - A new FDA-approved device that uses light stimulation enlarges the visual field of patients who are left with vision impairments after stroke, researchers announced here at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2007.

Dr. Jose G. Romano of the University of Florida at Miami presented findings of a review of 161 stroke patients treated at 16 U.S. clinics. The average patient age was 58.7 years old and the patients were seen about 3 years after a stroke or other brain injury causing impaired vision.

Patients underwent Vision Restoration Therapy (Nova Vision, Inc.), which is a custom-designed pattern of bright and dim light stimulation, delivered to the edges of the visual field of the affected eye. Patients use Vision Restoration Therapy twice a day, six days a week, in 30-minute sessions, fixating on a screen that delivered light stimulation. The complete Vision Restoration Therapy program consists of six four-week modules.

Three quarters of the patients improved to some extent. There was an average change of 4.9 degrees in the visual field, Romano told Reuters Health after his presentation. "An improvement of 5 degrees can be very significant...For instance, we read with only the central 5 degrees of vision."

The 5-degree change was equivalent to a 14.8 percent improvement in visual field, Romano explained. He and his colleagues found no correlation between age or time elapsed since the stroke and improvement with Vision Restoration Therapy.

"We are very excited about our findings," Romano said. "We have presented our findings to Medicare for reimbursement for the device."