Treatment for Half Blind Stroke Victims


Simple training could help thousands of people who have become partially sighted following a stroke or brain injury, researchers at Durham University claim. The researchers suggest that simple training accessed by using hand held games consoles or mobile phones could be used to rehabiltate people with hemianopia - an eye condition caused by stroke or brain injury that results in sufferers losing half of their field of vision.

Researchers at Durham University studied the vision improvements in 46 patients whose had their vision tested before and after treatment using the simple training program. The researchers found that combining attention training and teaching exploration techniques allowed participants to improve their vision and better negotiate spaces.

Hemianopia affects more than 4,000 people in the UK alone every year. The eye condition can complicate the daily routine of sufferers as many are unable to drive and experience problems with simple tasks such as balancing themselves, locating objects, walking and more.

Researchers also discovered that playing normal video games could also improve vision in people with hemianopia - as participants had to exercise their eyes by scanning and familiarising themselves with the virtual environment presented in the game.

Researchers hope that their computerised training can allow people with hemianopia to live increasingly independent lifestyles and to regain a better quality of life.

22nd May 2010

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