Improved visual function in a case of ultra-low vision following ischemic encephalopathy following transcranial electrical stimulation; A case study

TL;DR

This case study reports that combined transcranial electrical stimulation and visual rehabilitation therapy improved visual function in an 11-year-old girl with cortical visual impairment caused by ischemic encephalopathy, suggesting a promising noninvasive treatment approach.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of concurrent transcranial electrical stimulation and visual therapy for cortical visual impairment, demonstrating potential benefits in neuro-visual rehabilitation.

Findings

Improved visual function post-treatment

Potential of noninvasive neuro-visual therapy

Case-specific positive outcomes

Abstract

Cortical visual impairment is amongst the key pathological causes of pediatric visual abnormalities predominantly resulting from hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Such an injury results in profound visual impairments which severely impairs the patient's quality of life. Given the nature of the pathology, treatments are mostly limited to rehabilitation strategies such as transcranial electrical stimulation and visual rehabilitation therapy. Here, we discussed an 11 year-old girl case with cortical visual impairment who underwent concurrent visual rehabilitation therapy and transcranial electrical stimulation resulting in her improved visual function. This novel and noninvasive therapeutic intervention has shown potential for application in neuro-visual rehabilitation therapy (nVRT).