Clinical and Laboratory Evaluation of Peripheral Prism Glasses for Hemianopia

Abstract

Purpose Homonymous hemianopia (the loss of vision on the same side in each eye) impairs the ability to navigate and walk safely. We evaluated peripheral prism glasses as a low vision optical device for hemianopia in an extended wearing trial. Methods Twenty-three patients with complete hemianopia (13 right) with neither visual neglect nor cognitive deficit enrolled in the 5-visit study. To expand the horizontal visual field, patients’ spectacles were fitted with both upper and lower Press-On™ Fresnel prism segments (each 40 prism diopters) across the upper and lower portions of the lens on the hemianopic (“blind”) side. Patients were asked to wear these spectacles as much as possible for the duration of the study, which averaged 9 (range: 5 to 13) weeks. Clinical success (continued wear, indicating perceived overall benefit), visual field expansion, perceived direction and perceived quality of life were measured. Results Clinical Success: 14 of 21 (67%) patients chose to continue to wear the peripheral prism glasses at the end of the study (2 patients did not complete the study for non-vision reasons). At long-term follow-up (8 to 51 months), 5 of 12 (42%) patients reported still wearing the device. Visual Field Expansion: Expansion of about 22 degrees in both the upper and lower quadrants was demonstrated for all patients (binocular perimetry, Goldmann V4e). Perceived Direction: Two patients demonstrated a transient adaptation to the change in visual direction produced by the peripheral prism glasses. Quality of Life: At study end, reduced difficulty noticing obstacles on the hemianopic side was reported. Conclusions The peripheral prism glasses provided reported benefits (usually in obstacle avoidance) to 2/3 of the patients completing the study, a very good success rate for a vision rehabilitation device. Possible reasons for long-term discontinuation and limited adaptation of perceived direction are discussed.

Adaptation to poststroke visual field loss: A systematic review

“…Studies included in this review concerning substitutive treatments describe the use of prisms for hemianopia (Bowers, Keeney, & Peli, 2014; Giorgi, Woods, & Peli, 2009). The interventions Cochrane review (Pollock et al., 2011) reported insufficient evidence to reach any generalized conclusions regarding the effectiveness of substitutive interventions (prisms) compared to a placebo, control, or no treatment.…”

“…A study by Giorgi et al. (2009) evaluated the use of peripheral prism glasses in an extended wearing trial. They describe a reported benefit in patients completing the study, with 42% choosing to continue to wear the prisms at long‐term follow‐up.…”

The Role of Low Vision Rehabilitation in Neuro-ophthalmic Disease

“…Another advantage of using the Fresnel prism method is using 40-dioptre prism allows for field enhancement of up to 20 degrees. 31 In a 43-participant study, it was shown that 43% of people with homonymous field loss continued to wear Enhancement Prism lenses. 32 Currently there is an on-going 73-participant study utilising Enhancement Prism lenses that expand the parameter into the 56-prism-dioptre range, allowing for even larger field expansion.…”

The treatment methods for post‐stroke visual impairment: A systematic review

“…In a study of Peli prisms, Giorgi, Woods, and Peli (2009) found that the majority (74%) of participants wearing Peli prisms reported a positive difference over six weeks. Of these, 93% continued to wear the prisms for up to three months and 42% at an unspecified ‘long‐term follow‐up’.…”