Iliya V. Ivanov

Eye movements during saccadic and fixation tasks in patients with homonymous hemianopia.

Background: The aim of our study was to quantify ocular motor performance in patients with homonymous hemianopia and in healthy controls during saccadic and fixation tasks and to detect potential spontaneous adaptive mechanisms in the hemianopic patients. Methods: Eye movements were recorded in 33 hemianopic patients (15 right, 18 left; disease duration, 0.2–29 years) and 14 healthy subjects by scanning laser ophthalmoscope allowing determination of the absolute fovea position relative to the stimulus without calibration. Landing accuracy of saccades was determined for 5° saccades, indicated by the number of dysmetric saccades (DS), and fixation stability (FS) after landing. In addition, during continuous fixation of a central cross, FS, and distribution of fixational eye movements (FEMs) were measured. Size of macular sparing was determined using custom microperimetry software (stimulus grid, 0.5°). Results: Compared with controls, landing accuracy was decreased in hemianopic patients, indicated by significantly more DS (hypometric and hypermetric) to the blind side compared with the seeing side. The number of DS was greater in patients with macular sparing of <4°. DS were not correlated with age and disease duration. FS after landing was lower after saccades to the blind side. Distribution of FEM during continuous fixation was asymmetrically shifted to the blind side, especially in cases of macular sparing of <4°. Conclusions: Number of DS was not correlated with disease duration indicating insufficient spontaneous long-term adaptation. Increased number of DS and decreased FS after landing in patients with small or absent macular sparing stresses the importance of intact parafoveal vision. Asymmetric FEMs during continuous fixation indicate an advantageous adaptive mechanism to shift the visual field border towards the hemianopic side.

Eye Movement Training and Suggested Gaze Strategies in Tunnel Vision - A Randomized and Controlled Pilot Study

Purpose Degenerative retinal diseases, especially retinitis pigmentosa (RP), lead to severe peripheral visual field loss (tunnel vision), which impairs mobility. The lack of peripheral information leads to fewer horizontal eye movements and, thus, diminished scanning in RP patients in a natural environment walking task. This randomized controlled study aimed to improve mobility and the dynamic visual field by applying a compensatory Exploratory Saccadic Training (EST). Methods Oculomotor responses during walking and avoiding obstacles in a controlled environment were studied before and after saccade or reading training in 25 RP patients. Eye movements were recorded using a mobile infrared eye tracker (Tobii glasses) that measured a range of spatial and temporal variables. Patients were randomly assigned to two training conditions: Saccade (experimental) and reading (control) training. All subjects who first performed reading training underwent experimental training later (waiting list control group). To assess the effect of training on subjects, we measured performance in the training task and the following outcome variables related to daily life: Response Time (RT) during exploratory saccade training, Percent Preferred Walking Speed (PPWS), the number of collisions with obstacles, eye position variability, fixation duration, and the total number of fixations including the ones in the subjects blind area of the visual field. Results In the saccade training group, RTs on average decreased, while the PPWS significantly increased. The improvement persisted, as tested 6 weeks after the end of the training. On average, the eye movement range of RP patients before and after training was similar to that of healthy observers. In both, the experimental and reading training groups, we found many fixations outside the subjects seeing visual field before and after training. The average fixation duration was significantly shorter after the training, but only in the experimental training condition. Conclusions We conclude that the exploratory saccade training was beneficial for RP patients and resulted in shorter fixation durations after the training. We also found a significant improvement in relative walking speed during navigation in a real-world like controlled environment.

Effects of visual search training in children with hemianopia

Background This study investigates the effect of a new computer-based visual search training (VST) that was adapted for children with homonymous hemianopia (HH). Methods 22 children with HH (median age 11 years, 8 months: 6y6m-19y2m) trained at home for 15 minutes twice/day, 5 days/week, for 6 weeks. To assess performance before training (T1), directly after training (T2) and 6 weeks after the end of training (T3), we measured search times (STs) during on-screen search (with eye tracking), and in a real life search task. Additional variables analyzed during on-screen search were numbers, amplitudes, and durations of saccades, their directional patterns and the proportional number of saccades into the non-seeing field. The latter was the main variable during free viewing. Sixteen healthy age-matched children, who did not undergo the training, served as comparison group. Quality of Life (QoL)-questionnaires were also applied. Results STs of the patients decreased significantly during the training and all search performance tests. This improvement persisted 6 weeks after the end of the training. Saccade amplitudes increased, total number of saccades to find the target decreased, and the proportional number of saccades to the non-seeing side increased. These changes were maintained at T3. Saccade durations did not change. During free viewing, saccades were equally distributed to both sides before and after training. Patients reported improvements in QoL and activities of daily living. Performance in the healthy children did not change by simply repeating the visual search test. Conclusions The improvement in STs in all search tasks, larger and fewer saccades, and an improved search strategy after VST suggests that the children with HH benefited from the training. The maintained improvement at T3 and the improvement in the real life search task indicate that the newly developed search strategy persists and can be applied to everyday life.

Homonymous Hemianopia in Children and Adolescents: An MRI Study

Aim Diagnosing homonymous hemianopia (HH) in children can be difficult due to inability to comply with perimetry. Therefore, HH can often only be suspected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing lesions to the retrochiasmatic visual pathways. The aim of our retrospective observational cross‐sectional study was to improve the radiologic detection of HH. Methods MRIs of 21 subjects (5–17 years old) with ophthalmologically confirmed HH (14 complete, 7 incomplete hemianopias) were analyzed. In addition, we asked four questions looking at everyday problems possibly related to the HH. The questions asked for (1) problems in avoiding objects/people, (2) bumping into objects/people, (3) difficulties in judging stairs, and (4) difficulties in grasping objects. Results We found neuroanatomical correlates of the HH in all 21 participants, with the optic radiation being involved in almost all participants (20/21). Everyday problems possibly related to the HH were reported for all nine patients with postneonatally acquired complete hemianopias. In contrast, no such problems were reported for seven patients with incomplete HH (7/7) and for 3/5 patients with complete hemianopias due to pre‐, peri‐ or neonatally acquired brain lesions. Interpretation A dedicated radiologic analysis of the retrochiasmatic optic pathway should routinely be performed in children with brain lesions to identify children with HH. Early onset and incomplete HH are predictors for successful compensation.

Ultraviolet radiation oxidative stress affects eye health

In the eye, ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is not known to contribute to visual perception but to mainly damage multiple structures. UVR carries higher energy than visible light and high dose exposure to UVR causes direct cellular damage, which has an important role in the development of cancer. This review provides an overview on the most recent knowledge on the role of UVR in oxidative stress (OS) in relation to noncancer ocular pathologies: various corneal pathologies, cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Possible OS signaling streams and mechanisms in the aging eye are discussed. Excessive exposure to UVR through live may seriously contribute to increase in OS of various eye tissues and thus lead to the advancement of serious ocular pathologies. Children are especially vulnerable to UVR because of their larger pupils and more transparent ocular media: up to 80% of a persons lifetime exposure to UVR is reached before the age of 18. Therefore, efficient everyday protection of the sensitive tissues of the eye by wearing of sunglasses, clear UVR-blocking spectacles or contact lenses should be considered from early age on. Many initiatives are taken worldwide to inform and raise the populations awareness about these possible UVR hazards to the eye.

Quality and learning curve of handheld versus stand-alone non-mydriatic cameras

Purpose Nowadays, complex digital imaging systems allow detailed retinal imaging without dilating patients’ pupils. These so-called non-mydriatic cameras have advantages in common circumstances (eg, for screening or emergency purposes) but present limitations in terms of image quality and field of view. We compare the usefulness of two non-mydriatic camera systems (ie, a handheld versus a stand-alone device) for fundus imaging. The primary outcome was image quality. The secondary outcomes were learning effects and quality grade-influencing factors. Methods The imaging procedures followed standard protocol and were all performed by the same investigator. Camera 1 (DRS®) was a stand-alone system, while Camera 2 (Smartscope® PRO) was a mobile system. In order to evaluate possible learning effects, we selected an examiner with no prior training in the use of these systems. The images were graded separately by two experienced and “blinded” ophthalmologists following a defined protocol. Results In total, 211 people were enrolled. Quality grade comparisons showed significantly better grades for Camera 1. Both systems achieved better quality grades for macular images than for disc-centered images. No remarkable learning effects could be demonstrated. Conclusions Both camera systems are useful for fundus imaging. The greater mobility of Camera 2 was associated with lower image quality. For screening scenarios or telemedicine, it must be determined whether image quality or mobility is more important.

Human Vision-Motivated Algorithm Allows Consistent Retinal Vessel Classification Based on Local Color Contrast for Advancing General Diagnostic Exams.

PURPOSEnAbnormalities of blood vessel anatomy, morphology, and ratio can serve as important diagnostic markers for retinal diseases such as AMD or diabetic retinopathy. Large cohort studies demand automated and quantitative image analysis of vascular abnormalities. Therefore, we developed an analytical software tool to enable automated standardized classification of blood vessels supporting clinical reading.nnnMETHODSnA dataset of 61 images was collected from a total of 33 women and 8 men with a median age of 38 years. The pupils were not dilated, and images were taken after dark adaption. In contrast to current methods in which classification is based on vessel profile intensity averages, and similar to human vision, local color contrast was chosen as a discriminator to allow artery vein discrimination and arterial-venous ratio (AVR) calculation without vessel tracking.nnnRESULTSnWith 83% ± 1 standard error of the mean for our dataset, we achieved best classification for weighted lightness information from a combination of the red, green, and blue channels. Tested on an independent dataset, our method reached 89% correct classification, which, when benchmarked against conventional ophthalmologic classification, shows significantly improved classification scores.nnnCONCLUSIONSnOur study demonstrates that vessel classification based on local color contrast can cope with inter- or intraimage lightness variability and allows consistent AVR calculation. We offer an open-source implementation of this method upon request, which can be integrated into existing tool sets and applied to general diagnostic exams.