Health & Medicine - Posted by Tom Rickey-Rochester on Friday, May 1, 2009 13:08 - 14 Comments 
(2 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
(2 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5) Loading ...After stroke, brain learns to see again
Richard Farrands undergoes rigorous visual testing as part of a study that aims to improve the vision of patients who have had a stroke. University of Rochester researcher Krystel Huxlin, left, developed the computer system that exercises the brain, forcing it to develop to compensate for the damage caused by stroke. Patients who completed the study regained at least some of their vision, and some even were able to drive again. (Credit: Richard Baker)
U. ROCHESTER (US)—Once thought irreversible, vision loss sometimes associated with stroke may be treatable. By doing a set of vigorous visual exercises on a computer every day for several months, patients who had gone partially blind as a result of suffering a stroke were able to regain some vision.
Share this article
Email
Republish this article
The text of this article by Futurity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License.
Such rigorous visual retraining is not common for people who suffer blindness after a stroke. That’s in contrast to other consequences of stroke, such as speech or movement difficulties, where rehabilitation is common and successful.
“We were very surprised when we saw the results from our first patients,” says Krystel Huxlin, the neuroscientist and associate professor who led the study of seven patients at the University of Rochester’s Eye Institute. “This is a type of brain damage that clinicians and scientists have long believed you simply can’t recover from. It’s devastating, and patients are usually sent home to somehow deal with it the best they can.”
The results are a cause for hope for patients with vision damage from stroke or other causes, says Huxlin. The work also shows a remarkable capacity for “plasticity” in damaged, adult brains. It shows that the brain can change a great deal in older adults and that some brain regions are capable of covering for other areas that have been damaged.
Huxlin studied seven people who had suffered a stroke that damaged an area of the brain known as the primary visual cortex or V1, which serves as the gateway to the rest of the brain for all the visual information that comes through our eyes. V1 passes visual information along to dozens of other brain areas, which process and make sense of the information, ultimately allowing us to see.
Patients with damage to the primary visual cortex have severely impaired vision – they typically have a difficult or impossible time reading, driving, or getting out to do ordinary chores like grocery shopping. Patients may walk into walls, oftentimes cannot navigate stores without bumping into goods or other people, and they may be completely unaware of cars on the road coming toward them from the left or right.
Depending on where in the brain the stroke occurred, most patients will be blind in one-quarter to one-half of their normal field of view. Everything right or left of center, depending on the side of the stroke, might be gray or dark, for instance.
Building on blindsight
Despite the stroke, the patients’ eyes are taking in visual information. It’s just that the damaged brain cannot make sense of it to create vision.
Huxlin’s team sought to build on this “blindsight”—visual information, of which the patient is unaware, that still reaches the brain. A few past studies have shown promise for the idea of building on blindsight to improve a person’s vision.
“The question is whether we can we recruit other, healthy regions of the brain to benefit the person’s vision. Can we train those brain regions so hard and stimulate the brain to such a degree that this visual information is brought to consciousness, so the person is aware of what they’re seeing?” says Huxlin.
Exercise routine
Huxlin began the study with seven people, four women and three men, ranging from their 30s to their 80s, who had had a stroke anywhere from eight to 40 months before the experiment began. All had suffered substantial damage to the primary visual cortex. The funding to support the work came from Research to Prevent Blindness, the Pfeiffer Foundation, the Schmitt Foundation, and the National Eye Institute.
The team focused on motion perception, since it’s an aspect of vision critical for most everyday tasks. The team’s aim was to see if the brain’s middle temporal region, which was healthy in the participants, could be stimulated so extensively that it could take on some of the tasks normally handled by the visual cortex.
The five participants who performed the training and completed the experiment had significantly improved vision. They were able to see in ways they weren’t able to before the experiment began. A few found the experiment life-changing—a couple of participants are driving again, for instance, or have gained the confidence to go shopping and exercise frequently.
The patients in the study did about 300 tests at a time, which translated roughly to sitting in front of a computer for 15 to 30 minutes once or twice a day, every day, for nine to 18 months. It’s an exhausting task, especially for someone whose brain is working extra-hard to accomplish it. The University of Rochester has filed a patent on the technology.
“Basically, it’s exercising the visual part of the brain every day,” explains Huxlin. “It’s very hard work, very grueling. By forcing patients to choose, you’re helping the brain redevelop.”
University of Rochester news: www.rochester.edu/news
Please wait
14 Comments
Amanda Paull
Thank you for the information on recovering vision after a stroke. I am trying to find computer software to help train the vision after a stroke. Does anyone have any good suggestions?
Robert G.
I too am looking for software that will help train the vision after a stroke! I do not know what needs to be done but if I could find information on what needs to be done I could code it up in java! So if anyone has information on what need to be done and how or they have software that they are willing to share please post links!
Twila
My father has had a stroke and visual impairment seems to be the main result, confusion when walking or when being asked to quickly draw something occurs but I guess that is attributable to the vision defecit. He lives in a small rural town and I’m sure there are no medical facilities that could help him, so if there was a computer program that he could use to retrain himself, I’m sure he will work extremely hard to regain what vision he can. Any information will help!
I too am trying to find computer software to help train the vision after a stroke. I have vision loss in upper left quadrant from a stroke and have not yet be successful in finding any rehab procedures that could possibly restore the lost vision. Does anyone have any good suggestions?
shelly
my fiance had heart surgery, then had a stroke with partial blindness the hospital gave him prism glasses that was a joke it actually made it worse by seeing double vision please any help would be greatly appreciated thanks
res
I suffered a stroke in July 2009 and the primary effect is a right hemianopsia. I have had very little success in finding rehabilitation or exercise for trying to regain sight in blind area. I have researched extensively and this doctor is the first that seems to take our problem seriously.
James Risen
I believe the only way to get the computer program is to take part in the clinical study with Dr. Huxlin. I am currently in the program, begining about four months ago. It is tough, it is demanding and one really has to put forth a huge effort. I am already noticing an improvement in my vision and am having less difficulty with driving and navigating in crowds. Loss of vision is a huge motivation to try and succeed with the program. I would urge you to contact Dr. Huxlin at the University of Rochester to enroll in the study. I went to many doctors who offered no hope and I also found the prism lenses more of a problem than they were worth. I am so thankful I found Dr. Huxlin and her visual retraining program.
Jean-Pascal
res
Feb 1, 2011 18:40
I suffered a stroke in JuAugust 20010 and the primary effect is a left hemianopsia. I twould be very helpfull to know how to get such a software, or ,at leas,t it’s specifications in order to code it
..How to contact Dr. Huxlin?
Peter Littlewood
I too had a stroke in Oct 2009 and lost some of my vision in the lower left quardrant just below the horizontal axis. Unfortunately vision in this area is required by the DVLA in the UK and am now not licenced to drive. I did work in web/software development and would be able to do the coding if I new the specifications ? The doctors in the UK are not too interested, vision loss is not an area with any rehab facilities available. Can anyone help.
Angela-Graham
My husband did not lose his eyesight. He can see but everything moves. He feels drunk. Its a struggle for him to walk straight. His stroke happened Jan 2011. He had a stroke in his cerebellum area, which affected his balance and coordination. Would this program help him? His is mainly dizziness.
I had a stroke in February 2011. My wife and I are interested in any information on this program. We live in Rochester. Is there softwear we could purchase? Is there room in a program? P lease advise. I have lost vision on the right side of both eyes.
I had a stroke in February 2011. My wife and I are interested in any information on this program. We live in Rochester. Is there softwear that can be purchased or borrowed? Is there room in a program? I have lost vision on the right side of both eyes (homanymous hemianopsia) PLease advise. Thanks.
Norm Flowers
My friend had a major stroke on Aug 29, 2011 that left him totally blind – all he sees is total black. Is there any research or info on stroke sight recovery with or without surgery as everyone says this is highly unusual for total blindness to occur from a storke.
Thank you for any information or referral and please email me at normflowers@gmail.com with Stroke Blindness in the subject line.
Thank you
Norm Flowers
North Hollywood CA 9160
My husband suffered a stoke last Monday 15/02/2010, it has left him with partial blindness in his left quadrant. If he looks in a mirror able to see his whole face except for his left eye, if he works at it he can finally see his left eye.An Optometrist in town came up with your exercising the brain to regain his sight. Ernie, my husband is 65yrs old, fit but suffers from high blood pressure.
Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience, regards Glynis