Vision rehabilitation in case of blindness
Multiple Paper Presentation

Claude Veraart
Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Universite de

Anne De Volder
Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Universite de Louvain

Jean Delbeke
Neural Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Universite de Louvain

     Abstract ID Number: 4

Abstract
Perspective of vision rehabilitation in case of blindness depends on the time of occurrence of the visual loss. In case of early blindness sensory substituting systems could be helpful. These are non-invasive artificial vision systems that pick up and process visual information and transform it into stimulation of an intact sensory system such as audition or tact using a suitable translation code. On the other hand, provided the visual system has been fully developed before blindness occurrence, a visual prosthesis could be considered. Visual prostheses are invasive artificial vision systems that pick up and process visual information and translate it into electrical stimulation of a supposedly intact part of the still functional visual system of a completely blind person. Vision rehabilitation results obtained using either sensory substitution in case of early blindness, or optic nerve stimulation in case of retinitis pigmentosa are reported and discussed in this paper.

To be Presented at the Following Symposium:
Can the Blind See?
Other papers in this Symposium:

• Paul Bach-y-Rita
  Departments of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine and B
  Kathi Kamm
  Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  Tactile Sensory Substitution for Blindness
• Amir Amedi
  Harvard Center for Non-Invasive Magnetic Brain Stimulation,
  Peter Meijer
  Philips Research, Eindhoven, Netherlands
  Neural correlates of visual-to-auditory sensory substitution in proficient blind users.
• Lotfi Merabet
  Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
  Joseph Rizzo
  Neuro ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
  Visual Neuroprosthesis Development: The Implications of Neuroplasticity