Perceptual learning in patients with Stargardt disease

To evaluate the efficacy of Perceptual Learning in improving the peripheral reading performance of patients with Stargardt disease (STGD).

Prospective observational randomized study.

Fourteen consecutive patients (7 females, 7 males; median age of 50.4 ± 12.8 years) with STGD were analyzed and divided into two groups: Group A received "Win-flash" as Perceptual Learning training and Group B was used as control.

Subjects underwent an ophthalmic evaluation at baseline, after perceptual learning training and at 6 months of follow-up. Outcomes measured included reading speed, contrast sensitivity and fixation stability.

Reading speed improved of 51,7% after training in group A. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and fixation stability enhanced in group A after training from 0.89 (±0.09) LogMAR to 0.75 (±0.2) LogMAR (t(6)= 3.6, p= 0.001), from 0.8 (±0.3) LogC (0.6 - 0.9) to 1.3 (±0.3) LogC (t(13)=3.17, p= 0.003) and from 59.3 % (± 24.3) to 71.5 % (± 20.4) (t(13)=1.8 p= 0.04), respectively. No changes were found in group B. At 6-monts of follow-up, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity decreased in group A.

STGD patients receiving "Win-flash training", as PL technique, showed an improvement of reading performance on a real-world task. Early follow-up for perceptual learning re-intervention should be considered.