Perceptual Learning for Rehabilitation in Traumatic Optic Neuropathy

Traumatic optic neuropathy is a cause of sudden irreversible visual loss due to optic nerve damage following trauma. Reports of improvement have been noted after observation alone, treatment with corticosteroids, and surgical decompression. However, final visual acuity may not be predictable, with individual patients having little improvement in visual function despite therapy. Perceptual learning improves visual functions by improving the neural processing so as to allow image perception at low signal-to-noise ratios. The case report describes the beneficial effect of perceptual learning in traumatic optic neuropathy, the first to describe the use of perceptual learning in an optic neuropathy. A larger case-controlled study of the effect of perceptual learning in optic neuropathies is required to substantiate the beneficial effect and elaborate the scale of improvement that may be possible with this form of therapy.