Improving Vision and Quality of Life in Patients With Glaucoma Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Perceptual Learning: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Glaucoma is a complex disease that can result in progressive vision loss. It is the second leading cause of blindness, accounting for 23% of permanent blindness in Hong Kong. There are no treatments that restore vision lost to glaucoma. However, recent studies have shown that vision can be improved by perceptual learning (PL) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). This study will examine the effect of perceptual learning and tES on improving quality of life, visual function and functional performance in patients with peripheral field loss due to glaucoma. It is phase 2 of Glaucoma Rehabilitation Using ElectricAI Transcranial Stimulation (GREAT) project.
• Age range from 18 to 80 years;
• Diagnosis of primary open angle or normal tension glaucoma with relative scotoma in both eyes;
• A relative scotoma defined as a Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) threshold perimetry loss (mean deviation of -6dB) within the central 24 degree of the visual field for at least one eye;
• Best-corrected distance visual acuity of 6/12 or better (equivalent to 0.3 logMAR acuity or better to confirm that participant's central vision is preserved).
• Stable vision and visual field loss for at least 3 months;
• With a cognitive functional score of 22 or above in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Hong Kong version (HK-MoCA) (to confirm participant's intact cognitive function).