Impact of deprivation and preferential usage on functional connectivity between early visual cortex and category selective visual regions.

Unlabelled: Human behavior can be remarkably shaped by experience, such as the removal of sensory input. Many studies of conditions such as stroke, limb amputation, and vision loss have examined how the removal of input changes brain function. However, an important question has yet to be answered: when input is lost, does the brain change its connectivity to preferentially use some remaining inputs over others? In individuals with healthy vision, the central portion of the retina is preferentially used for everyday visual tasks, due to its ability to discriminate fine details.

Association of Sociodemographic Characteristics with Pediatric Vision Screening and Eye Care: An Analysis of the 2021 National Survey of Children's Health.

Purpose: Vision screening and regular eye care can help detect and treat potentially irreversible vision impairment. This study aims to investigate the associations between sociodemographic and health characteristics and the receipt of eye care among children aged 17 years and younger in the United States.

Design: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), a nationally representative and population-based survey of randomly sampled households.

Cortical plasticity in central vision loss: Cortical thickness and neurite structure.

Late-stage macular degeneration (MD) often causes retinal lesions depriving an individual of central vision, forcing them to learn to use peripheral vision for daily tasks. To compensate, many patients develop a preferred retinal locus (PRL), an area of peripheral vision used more often than equivalent regions of spared vision. Thus, associated portions of cortex experience increased use, while portions of cortex associated with the lesion are deprived of sensory input.

A Scoping Review of Intervention for Pediatric Cerebral Visual Impairment: Calling All Pediatric Occupational Therapists.

Cerebral visual impairment is the leading cause of low vision in children, and functional gains can be achieved with intervention. To date there exists no evidence-based intervention protocol to guide rehabilitation therapists. This scoping review was conducted to synthesize the evidence currently available and explore current interventions in order to guide future research.

Objective Vision-related Indications for Clear and Tinted Football Helmet Visors.

Significance: Football helmet visors are popular among players and may increase safety. However, they may also be costly or impractical, or impair the evaluation of head and neck injury. Determining an objective list of vision-related clinical conditions may help meet risk-benefit ratios while increasing access to care to athletes with special needs.

Repeatability and Validity of MNREAD Test in Children With Vision Impairment.

Purpose: To evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity of the MNREAD test for use in children with vision impairment (VI) and to compare their performance on the test to that of normally sighted children.

Methods: Children with VI ( = 62) and without VI ( = 40) were administered the MNREAD test and the Basic Reading Inventory (BRI) on two study visits, 1 to 3 weeks apart. The maximum reading rate, critical print size, and reading acuity were determined for the MNREAD test, and test-retest reliability was evaluated.

Reliability and validity of the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales in pediatric vision impairment.

Background: The PedsQL 4.0 is a generic health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) instrument that has been used across many pediatric health conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate its use in children with vision impairment and to test its ability to distinguish between visually impaired and normally sighted children.

Rehabilitation Referral for Patients With Irreversible Vision Impairment Seen in a Public Safety-Net Eye Clinic.

Importance: The prevalence of irreversible vision impairment in the United States is expected to increase by 2050. Vision rehabilitation is the primary treatment option. Clinical trials have established its efficacy in improving quality of life.

Bioptic Telescope Use and Driving Patterns of Drivers with Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To investigate the telescope use and driving patterns of bioptic drivers with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: A questionnaire addressing telescope use and driving patterns was administered by telephone interview to three groups of bioptic drivers: AMD ( = 31; median 76 years); non-AMD first licensed with a bioptic ( = 38; 53 years); and non-AMD first licensed without a bioptic ( = 47; 37 years). Driving patterns of bioptic AMD drivers were also compared with those of normal vision (NV) drivers ( = 36; 74 years) and nonbioptic AMD drivers ( = 34; 79 years).

Health Literacy in Older Adults With and Without Low Vision.

Objective: In this study, we investigated whether older adults with low vision (LV) from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) demonstrated lower functional health literacy than older adults without LV.

Method: Fifty adults with AMD were matched with adults without LV on age, gender, education, and income. We measured visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and reading speed and administered the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) using two test time conditions, standard and unlimited, to measure health literacy levels.

Cortical thickness in human V1 associated with central vision loss.

Better understanding of the extent and scope of visual cortex plasticity following central vision loss is essential both for clarifying the mechanisms of brain plasticity and for future development of interventions to retain or restore visual function. This study investigated structural differences in primary visual cortex between normally-sighted controls and participants with central vision loss due to macular degeneration (MD). Ten participants with MD and ten age-, gender-, and education-matched controls with normal vision were included.

Validation of a Reading Assessment for Persons With Homonymous Hemianopia or Quadrantanopia.

Objective: To preliminarily validate the Visual Skills for Reading Test (VSRT) for assessing reading performance in persons with homonymous hemianopia (HH) or quadrantanopia.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: University-based outpatient low vision rehabilitation center.

ADHD and Vision Problems in the National Survey of Children's Health.

Purpose: To compare the prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with normal vision and with vision problems not correctable with glasses or contact lenses (vision problems) as determined by parent report in a nationwide telephone survey.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 75,171 children without intellectual impairment aged 4 to 17 years participating in the 2011 to 2012 National Survey of Children's Health, conducted by the U.S.

Nystagmus in pediatric patients: interventions and patient-focused perspectives.

Nystagmus refers to involuntary, typically conjugate, often rhythmic oscillations of the eyes. The most common cause of nystagmus in children is infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS). INS presents within the first few months of life and is sometimes accompanied by an ocular condition associated with sensory impairment.

Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children with vision impairment.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in two clinics in Alabama serving children with vision impairment.

Methods: The medical records of children 4-17 years of age attending the Alabama School for the Blind (ASB) during the 2010-2011 school year or seen at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation between 2006 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Sociodemographics, ocular characteristics, and parental report of ADHD diagnosis were obtained.

Trial frame refraction versus autorefraction among new patients in a low-vision clinic.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between refractive error as measured by autorefraction and that measured by trial frame refraction among a sample of adults with vision impairment seen in a university-based low-vision clinic and to determine if autorefraction might be a suitable replacement for trial frame refraction.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all new patients 19 years or older seen over an 18-month period was conducted and the following data collected: age, sex, primary ocular diagnosis, entering distance visual acuity, habitual correction, trial frame refraction, autorefraction, and distance visual acuity measured after trial frame refraction. Trial frame refraction and autorefraction were compared using paired t-tests, intraclass correlations, and Bland-Altman plots.

Use of prescribed optical devices in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To evaluate prescribed optical device use in terms of frequency and perceived usefulness among people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We also sought to determine the tasks for which they were using their prescribed low vision device(s).

Methods: One hundred ninety-nine patients with AMD presenting for the first time to the low vision service were recruited from a university-based clinic.

Impact of pediatric vision impairment on daily life: results of focus groups.

Purpose: To identify through focus groups of visually impaired children and their parents, relevant content for a vision-targeted health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire designed for children aged 6 to 12 years.

Methods: Six focus groups of children with vision impairment aged 6 to 12 years and six focus groups of their parents were conducted by trained facilitators using a guided script. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and coded as per a standardized protocol for content analysis.

Hemianopic and quadrantanopic field loss, eye and head movements, and driving.

Purpose: To compare eye and head movements, lane keeping, and vehicle control of drivers with hemianopic and quadrantanopic field defects with controls, and to identify differences in these parameters between hemianopic and quadrantanopic drivers rated safe to drive by a clinical driving rehabilitation specialist compared with those rated as unsafe.

Methods: Eye and head movements and lane keeping were rated in 22 persons with homonymous hemianopic defects and 8 with quadrantanopic defects (mean age, 53 years) who were ≥6 months post-injury and 30 persons with normal fields (mean age, 53 years). All were licensed to drive and were current drivers or aimed to resume driving.

Evaluation of on-road driving in people with hemianopia and quadrantanopia.

Objective: To examine whether some drivers with hemianopia or quadrantanopia display safe driving skills on the road compared with drivers with normal visual fields.

Method: An occupational therapist evaluated 22 people with hemianopia, 8 with quadrantanopia, and 30 with normal vision for driving skills during naturalistic driving using six rating scales.

Results: Of drivers with normal vision, > 90% drove flawlessly or had minor errors.

On-road driving performance by persons with hemianopia and quadrantanopia.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the on-road driving performance of drivers with hemianopia and quadrantanopia compared with age-matched controls.

Methods: Participants included persons with hemianopia or quadrantanopia and those with normal visual fields. Visual and cognitive function tests were administered, including confirmation of hemianopia and quadrantanopia through visual field testing.

Visual field defects and the risk of motor vehicle collisions among patients with glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between visual field defects in the central 24 degrees field and the risk of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) among patients with glaucoma.

Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted in patients with glaucoma aged 55 or more. Cases were patients who were involved in a police-reported motor vehicle collision (MVC) between January 1994 and June 2000; controls were those who had not experienced an MVC at the time of their selection.

Is glaucoma associated with motor vehicle collision involvement and driving avoidance?

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the diagnosis of glaucoma and motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement and driving avoidance in drivers aged > or =50 years.

Methods: Two groups of patients, one with glaucoma and one without, were identified in three university-affiliated eye care practices. Demographic, clinical, and driving characteristics were obtained by chart abstractions and a patient survey.

Vision-specific health-related quality of life in age-related maculopathy patients presenting for low vision services.

Few studies have examined the effectiveness of low vision rehabilitation for age-related maculopathy (ARM) patients and its impact on vision-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, before a multi-site clinical trial can be conducted, appropriate outcome measures need to be identified for ARM patients who seek out low vision rehabilitation, including a vision-specific HR QoL instrument. The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was developed to assess vision-specific HRQoL for low vision patients, including those with ARM.