Visual Reconstitution Therapy After Optic Neuritis (VISION)

Incomplete remission after an optic neuritis attack is not uncommon. Visual reconstitution therapy is a software-based approach that has been shown to substantially improve residual visual field deficits in patients with pre- and postchiasmatic lesions. The primary hypothesis of this randomized, controlled clinical trial is, that visual reconstitution therapy is superior to active comparator treatment in improving the visual field after optic neuritis.

Patients with an acute optic neuritis (between 60 and 180 days before screening) or with residual visual deficits after a past optic neuritis are randomized in two treatment groups. Group A is instructed to perform software-based visual reconstitution therapy on a home PC daily and regularly for 30 minutes over a period of six month. Group B will perform a similarly, also software-based training program, developed to improve saccadic eye movements rather than visual fields. Patients are blinded to the respective treatment.

Inclusion Criteria: Definite Optic Neuritis within 60-180 Days or < 12 months before Screening Visus > 0.05 Visus < 0.7 or confirmed visual field deficit Ability to give Informed Consent Exclusion Criteria: Systemic Treatment with Glucocorticosteroids within 30 days prior to Screening Additional significant ophthalmological disease Pregnancy History of Epilepsy Significant arterial Hypertension

Schinzel J, Schwarzlose L, Dietze H, Bartusch K, Weiss S, Ohlraun S, Paul F, Dorr J. Efficacy of vision restoration therapy after optic neuritis (VISION study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2012 Jun 28;13:94. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-13-94.