120 Participants Needed

Vision Training for Low Vision

(FLAP Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location
RA
KM
RC
RA
Overseen ByRachel A Chua, MS
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

A greater understanding of plasticity after central vision loss can inform new therapies for treating low vision and has the potential to benefit millions of individuals suffering from low vision. The treatment of low vision is particularly relevant to the mission of the National Eye Institute (NEI) to support research on visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, and preservation of sight. The comparison of different training and outcome factors is in line with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDOC) framework and studies in an aging population are consistent with the mission of the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for Vision Training for Low Vision?

Research shows that low vision rehabilitation, which includes visual training and other methods, can improve the quality of life for individuals with low vision by helping them use their remaining vision more effectively. This approach is personalized and involves a multidisciplinary team to enhance visual functioning and independence.12345

Is vision training for low vision generally safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for vision training techniques, but these methods are commonly used in rehabilitation programs, suggesting they are generally considered safe.46789

How does the Vision Training for Low Vision treatment differ from other treatments for low vision?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on training various aspects of vision, such as spatial attention and visual sensitivity, to enhance the brain's ability to adapt to visual impairment. Unlike standard treatments that may rely on devices or aids, this approach leverages the brain's plasticity (ability to change and adapt) to improve visual performance and quality of life.23456

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 18-30 with corrected vision of 20/40 or better and no retinal pathology. It's not suitable for those needing special glasses, over certain body size limits, pregnant, with pacemakers/metal implants (except some dental work), weighing over 300 pounds, claustrophobic, hearing-impaired, with extensive tattoos near the head, a history of serious head injury or hallucinations/delusions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18 and 30 years old.
You have good vision (20/40 or better).
I have no history of eye diseases affecting the retina.

Exclusion Criteria

You weigh more than 300 pounds.
Metal of any type implanted in their head (limited dental work is acceptable)
You have very old or bright tattoos, especially near your head.
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Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants undergo training in visual sensitivity, spatial integration, and spatial attention over a 7-week period.

7 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in visual and neural metrics after training completion.

3 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Combination training
  • Training spatial attention
  • Training spatial integration
  • Training visual sensitivity
Trial OverviewThe study tests four training conditions to improve visual function in people with low vision: training visual sensitivity; spatial attention; spatial integration; and a combination of these methods. The goal is to understand how the brain adapts after central vision loss and develop new treatments.
Participant Groups
4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Condition 4: Combination trainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
In Condition 4, investigators combine the elements of Conditions 1-3. The investigators test the extent to which a combined training gives rise to the joint benefits of each training individually, or integrative benefits potentially surpass the benefits of the individual training alone. The visual sensitivity task from Condition 1 will alternate across blocks with the spatial integration task from Condition 2, using the timing of targets and location switches from Condition 3; Gabors or contours are used as targets instead of the red- circle in Condition 3 and a fixation point is presented instead of distractors to maintain a similar stimulus configuration as Conditions 1 and 2.
Group II: Condition 3: Training spatial attentionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
A key attribute of most real-world visual tasks is that individuals alternate shifting and holding attention and eye movements to different objects in the visual field while searching for and discriminating possible sources of visual information. To train this, investigators will implement a task structure that requires participants to alternate between holding and switching attention and making targeted eye movements. The basic task is to press a key whenever a red circle appears in a series of other colored circles, with a target presented every 2 to 4s. Participants must maintain vigilance for relatively long periods, detect objects in the near periphery, switch attention based upon exogenous and endogenous cues, and make eye- movements to move areas of spared vision to those locations. These are aspects of attention and eye movements not incorporated in Conditions 1 and 2.
Group III: Condition 2: Training spatial integrationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Most visual tasks involve integrating features to discriminate objects, therefore requiring brain areas that can integrate features from multiple receptive fields from early visual areas. Thus spatial integration involves what investigators refer to as mid-level vision. Spatial integration is a particular concern in developing a PRL since an area of the visual periphery that is best suited to discriminate a simple visual feature may not be appropriate to integrate information across objects, such as in reading or recognizing facial identity or expression. Investigators address this issue with a targeted spatial integration training approach developed by MPI Seitz and based on contour integration tasks used in previous PL studies to train mid-level visual processes. Target stimuli consist of contours formed by spaced Gabors. Difficulty of detecting the target is manipulated by varying orientation jitter of Gabors making up the target.
Group IV: Condition 1: Training visual sensitivityExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
A standard Perceptual Learning approach to train early visual processes of discriminating the orientation of Gabor patches presented at threshold- level contrast. Preliminary data, using this method, in normally seeing and MD participants show both feasibility and preliminary evidence that this training gives rise to improvements in acuity.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,677
Recruited
2,458,000+

University of California, Riverside

Collaborator

Trials
33
Recruited
14,400+

Findings from Research

A pilot program was conducted with occupational therapists lacking experience in low vision rehabilitation, resulting in the development of a best-practice model for training in this specialty area.
After three training sessions, the participating therapists achieved entry-level competency in low vision rehabilitation, suggesting that the model could effectively prepare students during their fieldwork placements.
Specialty level II fieldwork in low vision rehabilitation.Nastasi, JA.[2013]
Low vision is defined as having a visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better-seeing eye, which cannot be corrected with regular eyeglasses, significantly affecting daily activities like reading and walking.
Rehabilitation for low vision is a personalized, multidisciplinary approach aimed at enhancing functional abilities and improving the quality of life for individuals, tailored to their specific needs and underlying conditions.
Revisiting Vision Rehabilitation.Meyniel, C., Bodaghi, B., Robert, PY.[2020]
Visual rehabilitation significantly improves the quality of life for individuals with low vision or blindness from untreatable causes by helping them use their remaining vision effectively.
A multidisciplinary approach is essential for successful low vision rehabilitation, which includes assessing visual functions, prescribing aids, and training patients to use these devices, while also incorporating new technological advancements.
Current Modalities for Low Vision Rehabilitation.Agarwal, R., Tripathi, A.[2021]

References

Specialty level II fieldwork in low vision rehabilitation. [2013]
Revisiting Vision Rehabilitation. [2020]
Current Modalities for Low Vision Rehabilitation. [2021]
Is there a standard of care for eccentric viewing training? [2019]
Low Vision and Plasticity: Implications for Rehabilitation. [2021]
Training low vision patients. [2004]
Short-term effects of vision trainer rehabilitation in patients affected by anisometropic amblyopia: electrofunctional evaluation. [2022]
Vision rehabilitation team management of acquired monocular vision. [2013]
Rehabilitation Referral for Patients With Irreversible Vision Impairment Seen in a Public Safety-Net Eye Clinic. [2019]