Rehabilitation of chronic post-stroke visual field defect with computer-assisted training: a clinical and neurophysiological study.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to study whether homonymous visual field defects could be restored in chronic stroke patients (N = 5) using computer-assisted training, and whether the possible beneficial effect could be maintained. Visual evoked potential (VEP) recordings were applied to evaluate whether they could demonstrate the possible training effects at the cortical level.

METHODS

We applied a specially designed computer program in the training. Subjective assessment, static and kinetic perimetry, and pattern reversal hemifield VEP recordings were used to detect the possible changes.

RESULTS

Two patients showed improvements immediately after the training in static perimetry. Further improvements were detected at a later follow-up in three patients. With kinetic perimetry, improvements were detected in three patients. The visual field defect was detected with VEP recordings in four patients before the training, and improvements could be verified with the method in three patients, two of which clearly improved in the static perimetry as well.

CONCLUSIONS

In three patients, the visual defect diminished with the computer-assisted method. It seems evident that visual field defects resulting from stroke can be partially restored even in the chronic phase.