UNASSIGNED: The success of fixation training using microperimetric biofeedback (MP-3 MBFT) in the realm of visual rehabilitation for patients with central vision loss caused by macular pathologies is well established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of visual rehabilitation with microperimetric biofeedback in consolidating the benefits obtained, with the goal of reducing the need for repeated intravitreal injections (IVT). Specifically, the focus is on the eyes of patients with central vision loss treated with slow-release corticosteroid IVT following retinal venous thrombosis (RVO), aiming to enhance and maintain postoperative efficacy.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective review involved the examination of 44 eyes affected by macular edema due to RVO associated with central vision loss. Patients were divided into two groups, with only one undergoing ten sessions of 10-minute visual rehabilitation with a microperimeter (MP-3 MBFT) after IVT over a period of 20 weeks.
UNASSIGNED: All the treated patients demonstrated good tolerance to the procedure, with no reported complications. A comparison of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinal sensitivity recorded with a microperimeter, and pre-IVT fixation stability revealed statistically significant improvements at the end of the first month after IVT. However, the treatment group continued to exhibit superior and more enduring results at four months post-IV.
UNASSIGNED: The synergistic use of MP-3 MBFT rehabilitation after IVT with slow-release corticosteroids has proven particularly effective in improving BCVA and long-term fixation stability. This led to a significant reduction in the number of required IVTs, with no related adverse events. The authors argue that biofeedback utilization represents a noninvasive therapeutic option devoid of contraindications and easy to implement and that it positively contributes to the overall patient experience regarding quality of life in advanced stages of macular diseases.

Congenital cataract is among the main causes of treatable vision loss in childhood. The first weeks and months of life are a critical time for the development of vision. Therefore, early cataract surgery and effective multifaceted treatment of the resulting aphakia in the early stages of life are of great value for the management of vision development. Among the treatment models, contact lenses (CL) have an important place in infancy and early childhood up to the age of 2 years. Although good visual gains were not considered very likely, especially in unilateral aphakia, important steps have been taken in the treatment of pediatric aphakia thanks to the surgical techniques developed over time and the increasing experience with optical correction systems, especially CLs. This review examines current developments in the types of CL used in pediatric aphakia, their application features, comparison with other optical systems, the features of amblyopia treatment in the presence of CL, and the results obtained with family compliance to CL wear and occlusion therapy in the light of existing studies.

This review comprehensively explores pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) as a pivotal intervention in visually rehabilitating individuals afflicted with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The review begins by elucidating the significance of PDR within the spectrum of diabetic retinopathy (DR), emphasizing the progressive nature of the disease and the consequential impact on visual health. A detailed analysis of PRP follows, encompassing its definition, purpose, and historical development, shedding light on the procedural intricacies and mechanisms of action. The postoperative care and follow-up section underscores the necessity of vigilant monitoring for complications, visual recovery, and the importance of regular ophthalmic check-ups. The subsequent discussion delves into patient education and counseling, stressing the need to manage expectations, encourage lifestyle modifications, and highlight the significance of follow-up appointments. The review concludes with insights into future directions, including advancements in laser technology and emerging therapies, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of DR management. By addressing ongoing challenges and embracing innovative approaches, this review provides a comprehensive guide for clinicians, researchers, and healthcare practitioners who visually rehabilitate individuals struggling with PDR.

Post-stroke visual impairment (PSVI) affects more than 60% of the people who have a stroke but visual function is not routinely assessed in most stroke units. Recent high-quality research in this field has produced evidence-based assessment and management practices for PSVI. Orthoptists have integrated into the stroke care team in the United Kingdom (UK) to provide this valuable service. This paper outlines the development and implementation of the first known orthoptic PSVI service in North America. A pilot program was developed between the Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Departments in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. A new referral pathway was established to refer stroke patients with PSVI directly to an orthoptist with specialization in PSVI. Clinical findings from the first year of operation are reported. One hundred and seven visual deficits were suspected by the referring service. Visual field deficits were the most commonly reported PSVI. Diplopia was the most commonly reported oculomotor deficit in this cohort, and visual neglect/inattention was the most common visual perceptual deficit reported. Reading issues were the most commonly reported functional issues. Following assessment by an orthoptist, 45 additional visual deficits were identified and addressed. Stroke patients require assessment and treatment for PSVI. Orthoptists are perfectly suited to PSVI assessment and management. There is an opportunity to increase orthoptists\' scope of practice in North America to ensure stroke patients receive specialized vision assessment and treatment.

Full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) is a debilitating retinal disorder, particularly in its advanced forms, necessitating surgical intervention for vision restoration. This case report details the successful closure of a large FTMH using the inverted flap technique, highlighting the essential role of multimodal imaging, and particularly macular pigment optical density (MPOD) assessment, in preoperative and postoperative evaluation. A 55-year-old patient presented with severe vision loss in one eye due to a large FTMH. Surgery was performed by an expert vitreoretinal surgeon, resulting in significant postoperative improvements in visual acuity and retinal architecture. Multimodal imaging, including MPOD assessment, played a pivotal role in preoperative evaluation and postoperative monitoring. The notable increase in MPOD following successful surgery suggests its potential role as a valuable adjunctive biomarker associated with a good visual prognosis following this type of macular hole surgical interventions.

UNASSIGNED: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of blindness, residual damage to macular area in spite of treatment necessitates visual rehabilitation by means of low-vision aids (LVAs).
UNASSIGNED: Thirty patients suffering from different stages of AMD requiring LVAs were included in this prospective study. Patients with nonprogressive, adequately treated AMD were enrolled over a 12-month period, prescribed requisite LVAs and followed-up for a minimum 1-month period. Before and after provision of LVAs, near work efficiencies were evaluated by calculating reading speed as words per minute (wpm) under both photopic and mesopic light conditions, and impact of poor vision on activities of daily living (ADL) was quantified by modified standard questionnaire based on Nhung X et al. questionnaire.
UNASSIGNED: Of the 30 patients mean studied with mean age of 68 ± 10 years, 20 patients (66.7%) had dry AMD in better eye and 10 (33.3%) had wet AMD. Post-LVA, near visual acuity improved significantly and all cases were able to read some letters on near vision chart with an average improvement of 2.4 ± 0.96 lines. The different LVAs prescribed were high plus reading spectacles (up to 10 D) in 23.3%, hand-held magnifiers in 53.3%, base in prisms in 10%, stand held magnifiers in 6.7%, and bar and dome magnifiers in 3.3%.
UNASSIGNED: LVAs are effective in visual rehabilitation in patients with AMD. Self-reported reduction in visual dependency and improvement in vision-related quality of life post use of aids corroborated perceived benefit.

BACKGROUND: Cortical visual impairment (CVI) is a severe loss of visual function caused by damage to the visual cortex or its afferents, often as a consequence of hypoxic insults during birth. It is one of the leading causes of vision loss in children, and it is most often permanent.
OBJECTIVE: Several studies have demonstrated limited vision restoration in adults who trained on well-controlled psychophysical tasks, after acquiring CVI late in life. Other studies have shown improvements in children who underwent vision training. However, little is known about the prospects for the large number of patients who acquired CVI at birth but received no formal therapy as children.
METHODS: We, therefore, conducted a proof-of-principle study in one CVI patient long after the onset of cortical damage (age 18), to test the training speed, efficacy and generalizability of vision rehabilitation using protocols that had previously proven successful in adults. The patient trained at home and in the laboratory, on a psychophysical task that required discrimination of complex motion stimuli presented in the blind field. Visual function was assessed before and after training, using perimetric measures, as well as a battery of psychophysical tests.
RESULTS: The patient showed remarkably rapid improvements on the training task, with performance going from chance to 80% correct over the span of 11 sessions. With further training, improved vision was found for untrained stimuli and for perimetric measures of visual sensitivity. Some, but not all, of these performance gains were retained upon retesting after one year.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that existing vision rehabilitation programs can be highly effective in adult patients who acquired CVI at a young age. Validation with a large sample size is critical, and future work should also focus on improving the usability and accessibility of these programs for younger patients.

Blind individuals whether from birth or after being sighted for different periods of their lives constitute about 1% of the Nigerian population. These are individuals who can meaningfully contribute to the growth and development of society if properly guided. However, the traditional way of thinking within the society they find themselves in contributes to their lack of productivity. From birth to adulthood, they need to be guided and consciously prepared for independence. This is not yet widely obtainable in Nigerian society and other developing societies and generally may result in rejection, neglect, and high mortality rates in those affected with the majority unemployed sometimes for up to 10-15 years. It is imperative to offer comprehensive rehabilitation services that can assist this group of individuals to assert/reassert control and independence by designing a program tailored to meet their individual needs (not forgetting those who become blind as adults). A regional center, The Lens Rehabilitation center for the blind and severely visually impaired (TLEC ReHab Nig) located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria has put together a comprehensive program to ensure all round preparedness for independent, productive and fruitful living for persons living with blindness in line with best practices. This is an initial report on the outcome.
Les aveugles, qu’ils soient nés ou qu’ils aient été voyants pendant différentes périodes de leur vie, constituent environ 1% de la population nigériane. Ce sont des personnes qui peuvent contribuer de manière significative à la croissance et au développement de la société si elles sont correctement guidées. Cependant, le mode de pensée traditionnel au sein de la société dans laquelle ils se trouvent assure en grande partie leur manque de productivité. De la naissance à l’âge adulte, ils doivent être traités et préparés consciemment à l’indépendance. Cela n’est pas encore possible dans la société nigériane et dans d’autres sociétés en développement et en général, cela peut entraîner le rejet, la négligence et des taux de mortalité élevés chez les personnes touchées, la majorité d’entre elles restant à la maison jusqu’à 10 ou 15 ans sans rien faire. Il est impératif d’offrir des services de réadaptation complets qui peuvent aider ce groupe d’individus à s’affirmer/réaffirmer leur contrôle et leur indépendance en concevant un programme adapté à leurs besoins individuels. leurs besoins individuels. Un centre régional, The Lens Rehabilitation center for the blind and severely visually impaired (TLEC ReHab Nig), situé à Port Harcourt, au Nigeria, a mis en place un programme complet visant à préparer les personnes atteintes de cécité à une vie indépendante, productive et fructueuse, conformément aux meilleures pratiques. Il s’agit d’un premier rapport sur les résultats obtenus. Mots clés: Aveugle, Éducation inclusive, Réhabilitation visuelle, Réhabilitation TLEC, Nigeria.

Objective In this study, we aimed to examine the demographic characteristics, causes, and severity of visual disability and the reasons for seeking disability certificates among Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID)-certified visually disabled patients at a tertiary eye care center in central India. Materials and methods A retrospective observational analysis of medical records and data from the UDID portal involving 600 visually disabled individuals who were certified between February 2019 to March 2022 was performed. Demographic characteristics, diagnosis of the ocular disease, primary etiology, and percentage and grade of visual disability, as well as the main reasons for seeking a visual disability certificate, were analyzed statistically. Best-corrected visual acuity of less than 6/24 to 3/60 or a visual field less than 40 degrees to 10 degrees around the center of fixation or hemianopia involving the macula in the better eye were included in the low-vision category. Best corrected visual acuity of less than 3/60 to \"no light perception\" or visual field less than 10 degrees around the center of fixation in the better eye were included in the blindness category. Results Out of the total 600 patients, 214 (35.67%) were in the age group of 11-30 years. There were more males (63.67%) than females (36.33%) in the study. Four hundred patients (66.67%) had 100% disability. Retinal diseases (n=229, 48.50%) including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (n=130, 21.67%) were the most common cause of visual disability. Travel concessions and Government allowances were the most common reasons for seeking a disability certificate. Conclusion The study highlights the leading causes of visual disability, and RP was found to be the most common one. Avoidance of consanguineous marriages and genetic counseling should be made mandatory to prevent blindness due to RP. We recommend the widespread institution of eye care facilities, increasing the availability of healthcare facilities to all, and community education to eliminate avoidable blindness. This study provides key data to the Government to implement new policies or change the existing ones, plan for future strategies, and prioritize the rehabilitation of visually disabled individuals. Government programs to increase awareness among unregistered visually disabled patients regarding the benefits and rehabilitative measures like UDID card and low vision aids is the need of the hour.

Visual disturbances are amongst the most commonly reported symptoms after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) despite vision testing being uncommon at initial clinical evaluation. TBI patients consistently present a wide range of visual complaints, including photophobia, double vision, blurred vision, and loss of vision which can detrimentally affect reading abilities, postural balance, and mobility. In most cases, especially in rural areas, visual disturbances of TBI would have to be diagnosed and assessed by primary care physicians, who lack the specialized training of optometry. Given that TBI patients have a restricted set of visual concerns, an opportunity exists to develop a screening protocol for specialized evaluation by optometrists-one that a primary care physician could comfortably carry out and do so in a short time. Here, we designed a quick screening protocol that assesses the presence of core visual symptoms present post-TBI. The MOBIVIS (Montreal Brain Injury Vision Screening) protocol takes on average 5 min to perform and is composed of only \"high-yield\" tests that could be performed in the context of a primary care practice and questions most likely to reveal symptoms needing further vision care management. The composition of our proposed protocol and questionnaire are explained and discussed in light of existing protocols. Its potential impact and ability to shape a better collaboration and an integrative approach in the management of mild TBI (mTBI) patients is also discussed.