NovaVision's Computer Aided Vision Restoration Therapy

by H.S. Ayoub
BioHealth Investor.com




There are an estimated 1.5 million stroke or brain injury victims who experience problems with their vision in the United States. The defects can cause difficulty in carrying out common tasks such as reading or watching tv.

Back in 2003, NovaVision, a young private company based in Boca Raton, Florida, recieved FDA approval for a new kind of therapy; Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT).

VRT works by utilizing a computer-like device that flashes signals on a screen, to which patients must react too when they see them (Watch Video). The idea is that working parts of the visual areas of the brain can be trained to overcome the damaged areas. This has attracted some critics from the medical field, since there exists a long held belief that the visual cortex is not plastic, and cannot overcome damage.

Many years ago, the area of the brain housing our memories was found to be plastic and produce new neurons as we develop more memories well into adulthood. It is thus, not astonishing to suggest that other parts of the brain could be repaired in adults, including the visual cortex.

The latest study presented in February by NovaVision shows that 76% of patients undergoing VRT twice a day after 6 months showed an improvement in their vision, including a 5 degree improvement in their visual field. That is a markable achievement for medicine.

While the therapy is available to everyone, the $6000 price tag does pose an obstacle to some patients. However, some insurance carriers have approved it on a case by case basis, and NovaVision is working on making VRT part of the government's Medicare reimbursement program for the elderly.



Source: BioHealth Investor.com

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