Durham University, Press Release on Visual Rehab Technique

The University of Durham is developing a computer-based visual rehabilitation technique.  Click here to view the press release (May 2010).  They published a study looking at visual search and attention training in patients with hemianopia due to a range of causes.  Click here to view their research paper, published in Brain, June 2010.  There's still some way to go, but this paper raises interesting issues about different training methods, along with a discussion of the relationship between rehabilitation outcomes, visual search, reading, and visual field measurements.

Larry Weiskrantz on the discovery of "Blindsight"

In The Psychologist, April 2010, "Blindsight in Hindsight", Larry Weiskrantz describes the discovery of blindsight - visual response without conscious perception, in patients with visual cortex damage.

UK Stroke Association prioritises visual impairment

At a meeting today, the Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, Jon Barrick, named visual impairment in stroke as one of their top six priority areas over the next 5 years.  See the Stroke Association Manifesto 2010 to 2015

Computer based visual search DVD

A DVD of a computer based visual search technique has been made by the Oxford University Oculomotor Group.  The image below shows the sort of visual search task which is involved.  People are required to search for a target object amongst distractors using their eyes while keeping their head still.  Training results in increased search speed, reported improvements in daily vision, and improvements in tasks representing activities of daily living.

Contact Dr Stephen Hicks at Oxford University for more information.
Oxford University Oculomotor Group

The technique was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry in 2004.  For a PDF of the publication from PubMed Central, follow this link:
Saccadic Visual Search Training: Pambakian et al, JNNP 2004

Here's an interesting clip of Rochester University's Krystel Huxlin talking about a visual rehab method they're developing, published in the Journal of Neuroscience last year.
Krystel Huxlin demonstrating visual rehab

Vision screening in stroke

Vision screening in stroke is included in the new Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) Guidelines.  Screeing, if possible by an orthoptist, is recommended.  However, it has not yet been shown the screening is effective in terms of patient outcomes like visual function, falls, quality of life, though according to a recent study the vast majority of patients referred to orthoptists do indeed turn out to have visual problems of one sort or another.

The UK Stroke Forum is on 30 Nov - 2 Dec 2010.  Rehabilitation is a big theme.  Hopefully there will be some visual rehab sessions.
http://www.ukstrokeforum.org/

Welcome

Welcome to Phil Clatworthy's visual rehabilitation page.  I am a neurologist and stroke physician interested in visual impairment in neurological disorders, and visual rehabilitation.