Fresnel prism therapy for right hemianopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Vision Science

Background:

• Right hemianopia, a condition causing loss of vision in half of the visual field, significantly impacts daily functioning.
• Patients often struggle to perceive or react to stimuli in their affected visual field, increasing risks of accidents.
• Conventional compensatory strategies may be cumbersome or insufficient for some individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Fresnel prisms in improving awareness of the blind visual field in patients with right hemianopia.
• To determine the importance of exact prism placement on spectacle lenses for optimal patient benefit.

Main Methods:

• Fresnel prisms were applied to the spectacle lenses of patients diagnosed with right hemianopia.
• Patients' ability to detect objects presented within their blind visual field was assessed before and after prism application.
• The precise location of prism placement was systematically varied to identify optimal positioning.

Main Results:

• The application of Fresnel prisms facilitated greater awareness of objects within the previously blind visual field.
• Patients reported an improved ability to detect and orient towards stimuli in their right hemianopic field.
• The exact positioning of the prisms on the spectacle lenses was found to be a critical factor influencing the degree of visual field awareness improvement.

Conclusions:

• Fresnel prisms represent a viable and accessible tool for enhancing visual field awareness in individuals with right hemianopia.
• Careful and precise placement of these prisms is essential for maximizing their therapeutic benefit and improving patient safety.
• This intervention offers a practical approach to mitigate the challenges associated with hemianopic visual field defects.