Biofeedback Fixation Training in the Rehabilitation of Patients with Geographic Atrophy

TL;DR

This study explores how biofeedback training can improve vision and quality of life in patients with geographic atrophy, a condition causing central vision loss.

Contribution

The study introduces biofeedback fixation training as a novel rehabilitation method for geographic atrophy patients with limited treatment options.

Findings

Biofeedback fixation training significantly improved visual acuity, reading ability, and contrast sensitivity in patients with geographic atrophy.

Fixation stability and vision-related quality of life showed positive trends following the training.

The training was feasible and promising as a rehabilitation approach for geographic atrophy.

Abstract

Geographic atrophy (GA) is a progressive cause of central vision loss with limited rehabilitation options. This prospective case series aimed to evaluate the effects of biofeedback fixation training (BFT) on visual function and vision-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with GA. Eighteen patients with total central vision loss in one eye underwent BFT on the fellow eye (study eye) using the Macular Integrity Assessment (MAIA) system, which was used to select a new, previously chosen preferred retinal locus (PRL) to stabilize fixation or adopt a new fixation locus. Patients were followed for an average of 13.2 months (range 3–26 months). Functional outcomes included best corrected visual acuity (ETDRS chart), reading performance (Radner test), and contrast sensitivity (Spot Checks test). MAIA parameters comprised average retinal sensitivity, fixation distance and stability (P1, P2), and changes in the bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA). Vision-related quality of life was assessed using the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25). Following BFT, visual acuity, reading ability and contrast sensitivity improved significantly (p value: p < 0.02), and fixation stability and NEI-VFQ-25 scores showed a positive trend. These findings indicate that BFT is a feasible and promising rehabilitation approach for patients with GA.

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