BACKGROUND: Impaired vision is one of the commonest and most disabling consequence following stroke. Among all visual impairments, eye movement disorders are found in 70% of stroke patients which include nystagmus, strabismus, gaze palsies, disconjugate eye movements and cranial nerve palsies. They have a wide ranging impact on balance and activities of daily livings by creating difficulties in maintaining normal alignment and appropriate movement of eyes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of visual scanning exercises in addition to task specific approach on balance and activities of daily livings in post stroke patients with eye movement disorders.
METHODS: This study is a randomized controlled trial and was conducted in the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital from May 2019 to October 2020. A sample of 64 patients was recruited and randomly allocated into experimental and control group. 32 patients in experimental group were treated with visual scanning exercises along with task specific approach and 32 patients in control group were treated with task specific approach alone. Pre and post assessment of balance and activities of daily livings was assessed on BERG BALANCE SCALE and BARTHEL INDEX SCALE at baseline and at 4th week.
RESULTS: Intra-group analysis of BERG BALANCE SCALE in experimental group showed statistically significant result (p < 0.05) in all items except in items 4, 13 and 14 respectively. Intra-group analysis of BERG BALANCE SCALE in control group showed statistically significant result (p < 0.05) in items 3, 5, 8 and 12 respectively, whereas remaining all items showed statistically insignificant result. Intra-group analysis of BARTHEL INDEX SCALE in experimental group showed statistically significant result in all items (p < 0.05) except in items 9 and 10 respectively. Intra-group analysis of BARTHEL INDEX in control group showed statistically significant result (p < 0.05) in items 1, 3, 4 and 8 respectively whereas remaining all items showed statistically insignificant result. Inter-group analysis showed statistically significant result in total scores of BERG BALANCE SCALE (p = 0.000) and BARTHEL INEX SCALE (p = 0.033).
CONCLUSIONS: Visual scanning exercises along with task specific approach were found to be more effective in comparison to task specific approach alone.
BACKGROUND: Trial registration number: [IRCT20190717044237N1], trial registration date: 10/11/2019.

UNASSIGNED: To report fixation stability changes in patients with different forms of infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS), who have undergone a visual rehabilitation through biofeedback fixation training (BFT) with microperimetry (MP).
UNASSIGNED: Retrospective study.
UNASSIGNED: Patients 6 to 12 years-old with INS who performed BFT with MP. Initially 10 once-weekly followed by eight twice-weekly sessions of BFT during a minimum of 6 months period were performed. Visual acuity (VA) and MP fixation stability indices were analyzed, including displacement from fixation point (P1, P2) and percentage of retinal loci used during fixation attempt (BCEA 63% and 95%). Statistical analysis was conducted at baseline (BL), 10 weeks (W10) and 6 months (M6).
UNASSIGNED: Twelve patients (mean age 8.9 years.) with INS completed the whole training session. All patients showed significant improvement in the mean BCEA fixation area (deg2): For BCEA@95% BL was 78.0, 46.1 at W10, and 27.4 at M6 (p-value = 0.004). For BCEA@63% BL was 27.3, 15.4 in W10, and 9.17 at M6 (p = 0.01). The ANOVA test for the FS indices of P1 and P2, as well as for BCVA showed no significant difference when compared at the same intervals.
UNASSIGNED: Fixation stability (FS) indices of BCEAs (63% and 95%) improved at W10 and M6, while P1 and P2 showed significant improvement at W10 but not at M6, probably because BCEA involves a much larger area than P1 and P2. VA did not show significant improvement at any time point.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate whether there is an association between convergence insufficiency and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and whether there is an association between pain and range of motion in different degrees of TMD.
METHODS: We evaluated 138 individuals with TMD and 46 without TMD using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders, the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI), Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and the measurement of mandibular range of motion (ROM). Convergence insufficiency was diagnosed using the convergence test and Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey. Analysis of variance was used to compare age and mandibular ROM. The Kruskal-Wallis was used to compare mandibular ROM and pain between groups. The chi-square test was used to evaluate associations between TMD subgroups and the FAI, sex, and ocular convergence.
RESULTS: The majority of individuals without TMD did not exhibit convergence insufficiency. The frequency convergence insufficiency was significantly higher among individuals with severe TMD (p < 0.003). Mean pain severity differed between individuals with and without TMD. Mandibular ROM diminished with the increase in TMD severity.
CONCLUSIONS: Convergence insufficiency, age, the increase in pain, and the reduction in mandibular range of motion were associated with the degrees of TMD severity. Despite the significant associations between convergence insufficiency and both pain and TMD severity, these variables cannot be indicated as predictive factors due to the low variability in the linear regression analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The present findings can assist in decision making regarding the treatment of severe TMD and the evaluation of ocular convergence.

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment, specifically eye movement disorders and vestibular dysfunction may have a negative influence on the functional recovery in post-stroke patients. This type of sensory dysfunction may further be associated with poor functional outcome in patients\' post-stroke.
METHODS: In phase 1, a cross-sectional survey (n = 100) will be conducted to determine the prevalence of eye movement disorders and vestibular dysfunction in patients who sustained a stroke. A cross-sectional clinical trial (n = 60) will be conducted during phase 2 of the study to determine the effect of the combination of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) and visual scanning exercises (VSE) (experimental group) integrated with task-specific activities compared with the effect of task-specific activities as an intervention (control group) on patients who present with eye movement impairment and central vestibular dysfunction post-stroke. An audiologist will assess (a) visual acuity (static and dynamic), (b) nystagmus, (c) saccadic eye movements, (d) smooth pursuit eye movements, (e) vestibulo-ocular reflex, and (f) saccular, utricular, and vestibular nerve function. An independent physiotherapist will assess (1) cognitive function, (2) residual oculomotor visual performance, (3) visual-perceptual system, (4) functional balance, (5) gait, (6) functional ability, (7) presence of anxiety and/or depression, and (8) level of participation in physical activity.
UNASSIGNED: Ethics approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP) (374/2015). The study will be submitted as fulfillment for the PhD degree at UP. Dissemination will include submission to peer-reviewed professional journals and presentation at congresses. Training of rehabilitation team members on the integration of VSE and VRT into task-specific activities in rehabilitation will be done if the outcome of the experimental group\'s functional performance is clinically and statistically significantly better than the control group on the Barthel Index.
BACKGROUND: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR201509001223262).

OBJECTIVE: The study describes an abnormal convergence symptom, i.e. unilateral exophoria at near, in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this paper is to present the symptom and discuss its possible explanations.
METHODS: 29 patients with SZ, 15 patients with BD and 20 healthy controls (HC) took part in the study. The neurological assessment was done with International Co-operative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES).
RESULTS: The abnormal vergence pattern was observed in 12 patients with SZ, 1 patient with BD and 0 HC. Symptom appeared statistically more often in SZ patients than in BD patients and HC. SZ patients with vergence symptom performed significantly worst in oculomotor and dysarthia subscores of ICARS.
CONCLUSIONS: The symptom can be linked to disruptions in cortico-ponto-cerebellar network and midbrain. It was the only neurological symptom that differed SZ and BD groups, thus it might be used in differential diagnosis. Further research is needed to obtain a full clinical description of the symptom.