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Clinical treatment options for patients with homonymous visual field defects

Lane, A.R.; Smith, D.T.; Schenk, T.

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Authors

T. Schenk



Abstract

The objective of this review is to evaluate treatments for homonymous visual field defects (HVFDs). We distinguish between three treatments: visual restoration training (VRT), optical aids, and compensatory training. VRT is both the most ambitious and controversial approach, aiming to restore portions of the lost visual field. While early studies suggested that VRT can reduce the visual field defect, recent studies using more reliable means of monitoring the patients’ fixation could not confirm this effect. Studies utilizing modern optical aids have reported some promising results, but the extent to which these aids can reliably reduce the patients’ visual disability has yet to be confirmed. Compensatory approaches, which teach patients more effective ways of using their eyes, are currently the only form of treatment for which behavioral improvements have been demonstrated. However, with the exception of one study using a reading training, placebo-controlled clinical evaluation studies are lacking. It is also not yet clear whether the training benefits found in laboratory tasks lead to reliable improvements in activities of daily living and which of the various forms of compensatory training is the most promising. It is therefore too early to recommend any of the currently available treatment approaches.

Citation

Lane, A., Smith, D., & Schenk, T. (2008). Clinical treatment options for patients with homonymous visual field defects. Clinical Ophthalmology, 2(1), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.2147/opth.s2371

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 7, 2008
Deposit Date May 21, 2010
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Clinical ophthalmology
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 2
Issue 1
Pages 93-102
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/opth.s2371
Keywords Hemianopia, Rehabilitation, Restorative, Visual Search, Saccade.

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Publisher Licence URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Copyright Statement
© 2008 Lane et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd. This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.





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