A portable brain-computer interface (BCI) may be useful for objectively assessing visual field loss in diseases such as glaucoma, according to a study published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
The authors reported on a case-control study involving 62 eyes of 33 patients with glaucoma and 30 eyes of 17 healthy participants. Glaucoma was diagnosed based on a masked grading of optic disc stereophotographs. All participants underwent testing with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and an ‘nGoggle’ BCI device within three months. The nGoggle integrates a wearable, wireless, dry electroencephalogram (EEG) system and a head-mounted display that enable the electrical brain activity associated with visual field stimulation to be monitored.
The authors concluded that the BCI device may be useful for assessing the electrical brain responses associated with visual field stimulation. “The device was able to identify eyes with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and its measurements showed adequate repeatability. Future longitudinal investigations should assess whether BCI devices are able to detect progressive glaucomatous damage.”
Reference
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2621879
