Efficacy of MP-3 microperimeter biofeedback fixation training for low vision rehabilitation in patients with maculopathy

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the efficacy of MP-3 microperimeter biofeedback fixation training (MBFT) in vision rehabilitation of low-vision patients affected by macular disease with central vision loss.MethodsSeventeen eyes (7 age-related macular degeneration, 10 myopic maculopathy) of 17 patients were included in this prospective, interventional study. The preferred retinal locus was determined by comprehensive ophthalmoscopic fundus evaluation including fundus photography, autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, and microperimetry. The rehabilitation consisted of three 10-min sessions per eye to be performed twice per week for 20 consecutive weeks using the MP-3 microperimeter. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reading speed, mean central sensitivity, the percentages of fixation points within specified regions, bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) and the 25-item National Eye Institute visual function questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) were recorded pre- and post-training.ResultsThe final BCVA, reading speed and mean central sensitivity all showed significant improvements after rehabilitation (P < 0.0001,P = 0.0013, andP = 0.0002, respectively). The percentages of fixation points located within 2° and 4° diameter circles both significantly increased after training (P = 0.0008 andP = 0.0007, respectively). The BCEA encompassing 68.2, 95.4, 99.6% of fixation points were all significantly decreased after training (P = 0.0038,P = 0.0022, andP = 0.0021, respectively). The NEI-VFQ-25 scores were significantly increased at the end of the rehabilitation training (P < 0.0001).ConclusionRehabilitation with MP-3 MBFT is a user-friendly therapeutic option for improving visual function, fixation stability, and quality of life in advanced macular disease.Trial registrationThe prospective study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/). Trial Registration Number:ChiCTR2000029586. Date of registration: 05/02/2020.

The Effect of Varied Microperimetric Biofeedback Training in Central Vision Loss: A Randomized Trial

“…16,26,32,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] These studies focused on the effect of biofeedback rehabilitation on visual functions, such as fixation location and stability, reading speed, and contrast sensitivity, but there is no consensus on the optimal training methodology. Recently, Qian et al 50 showed the efficacy of biofeedback in patients with maculopathies who underwent a training strategy consisting of three 10-minute sessions per eye performed twice per week for 20 consecutive weeks using the MP-3 microperimeter. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, our study compares two different methodologies for biofeedback training to identify the best strategy to achieve the set target for rehabilitation outcomes balanced by the rate of attendance.…”

Trends in research related to ophthalmic microperimetry from 1992 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph study

“…Fundus autofluorescence was also a complement to microperimetry ( 34 , 35 ). Furthermore, microperimeters could not only evaluate the visual acuity but also help the rehabilitation training of fixation stability ( 34 – 36 ). The use of microperimetric fundus-tracking could be employed to potentially facilitate subtle changes that might be overlooked with standard perimetric examinations.…”

Visual function and biofeedback training of patients with central vision loss: a review

“…A retrospective study by Daibert-Nido et al [81] found that the visual acuity of patients with MD improved after biofeedback training. Another study by Qian et al [82] reviewed a retrospective series of 17 patients with MD using an MP-3 microperimeter device to perform biofeedback training and found that biofeedback training could improve the visual acuity, reading speed, retinal function, and fixation stability of the patient. Barboni et al [83] conducted a retrospective study of six patients with AMD using an MAIA microperimeter device to perform biofeedback training, and the results showed that the contrast sensitivity and BCVA of the patients improved after training 12 times.…”

“…Nevertheless, there are large differences in biofeedback training strategies between studies. Qian et al [82] performed a prospective cohort study that included 17 eyes of 17 patients with CVL, and biofeedback training was performed using the MP-3 device twice a week for 20wk. The results suggested that the BCVA and reading speed of the included patients significantly improved.…”