Preliminary Findings on the Optimization of Visual Performance in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Biofeedback Training

Autor(es)

Barboni, Mirella T. S. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Recsan, Zsuzsanna ^{[2, 3]} ; Szepessy, Zsuzsanna ^{[2, 3]} ; Ecsedy, Monika ^[2] ; Nagy, Balazs Vince ^{[1, 4]} ; Ventura, Dora F. ^[1] ; Nagy, Zoltan Zsolt ^[2] ; Nemeth, Janos ^{[2, 3]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Expt Psychol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Semmelweis Univ, Dept Ophthalmol, Maria U 39, H-1085 Budapest - Hungary

^[3] Bion Innovat Ctr, Budapest - Hungary

^[4] Budapest Univ Technol & Econ, Dept Mech Opt & Mech Engn Informat, Budapest - Hungary

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: APPLIED PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY AND BIOFEEDBACK; v. 44, n. 1, p. 61-70, MAR 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Biofeedback training has been used to improve fixation stability in subjects with central vision loss, but the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the functional improvements resulted was not reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microperimetric biofeedback training on different visual functions and self-reported quality of vision in subjects with age-related macular degeneration. This case-control study included six subjects (72.0 +/- 6.1years of age) diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (wet or dry) with low vision (best corrected visual acuity ranging from 0.5 to 0.1 in the study eye) and five healthy volunteers (64.2 +/- 3.7years of age). Ophthalmological and functional examinations were obtained from all subjects twice with an approximately 3-month interval. Subjects with central vision loss performed 12 sessions (10min each) of biofeedback training between the two examinations. Functional evaluation included: microperimetry, spatial luminance contrast sensitivities, color vision thresholds, visual acuity, and reading speed. Visual performance during daily activities was also assessed using a standardized questionnaire. The ratio (2nd/1st examination) of the spatial luminance contrast sensitivity at lower spatial frequencies were much higher for the training subjects compared with the controls. In addition, self-reported quality of vision improved after the training. The significant improvement of the visual function such as spatial luminance contrast sensitivity may explain the better self-reported quality of vision. Possible structural and physiological mechanisms underlying this neuromodulation are discussed. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/04538-3 - Distrofinas e o sistema visual humano: estudo dos diferentes fenótipos visuais de pacientes com distrofia muscular de Duchenne
• Beneficiário: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 16/22007-5 - Optimização da capacidade funcional visual de pacientes com maculopatias através de protocolos de treinamento do sistema visual
• Beneficiário: Mirella Telles Salgueiro Barboni
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Pesquisa