System and Methods for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating a retinal disease in a human include locating and defining one or more zones of vision within the human's visual system and defining a treatment area which is located within at least one of the zones. The method of this embodiment may also include treating the human's retinal disease by presenting visual stimuli to the treatment area at a specified location and with a specified definition and recording changes in specified characteristics of the human's visual system. The method of this embodiment may also include reiterating the previous steps so as to improve the human's overall visual system.

1 . A method for treating a retinal disease in a human comprising:
 locating and defining one or more zones of vision within the human's visual system;   defining a treatment area which is located within at least one of the zones;   treating the human's retinal disease by presenting visual stimuli to the treatment area at a specified location and with a specified definition;   recording changes in specified characteristics of the human's visual system; and   reiterating the previous steps so as to improve the human's overall visual system.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reiterating includes adapting the location and definition of the stimulus presentation to the treatment area, according to the changes. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visual system of the human includes an intact visual field and only the intact visual field is treated. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visual system of the human includes a zone outside intact visual field that may include: a zone of deteriorated vision, a zone of residual vision, a zone of partial vision function, and a zone of partial visual function injury; and
 wherein at least one of the zones outside the intact visual field is treated.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visual system of the human includes a blind zone and at least the blind zone is treated. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the size, location and kind of said treatment area are selected in accordance with the size, location and kind at least one of the intact zone of vision, zone of partial visual system injury, zone of residual visual function and zone visual deficit of said human. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein light stimuli are presented to the human's visual system as the visual stimuli. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the light stimuli are light stimuli of at least one of different color, luminance, intensity, and shape. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of presenting visual stimuli to the human's visual system comprises presenting at least one fixation point to the human's visual field allowing a control of the human's angle of view. 
   
   
       10 . The method of any of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all visual stimuli are presented to the human's visual system in or immediately adjacent to the zone of intact vision. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of presenting visual stimuli to the human's visual system is conducted on a screen. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the screen may include a computer screen, a video screen, or a projection screen. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of presenting visual stimuli to the human's visual system is conducted on a visual projection device. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , where in the visual projection device includes virtual reality goggles or a helmet. 
   
   
       15 . The method of any  claim 1 , wherein the recording of changes in the characteristics of the human's visual system comprises a recording of at least one of responsiveness, color recognition, shape recognition, and localization of the visual stimuli by the human. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of locating and defining said at least one zone, defining said treatment area, presenting visual stimuli, recording changes in the characteristics of the human's visual performance, adapting the location and definition of the treatment area and reiterating the previous steps are controlled by a central data processing means. 
   
   
       17 . The method of any of  claim 1 , wherein the step of recording changes in the human's performance includes a step of recording changes in the human's ability to react on time-connected signal discrimination. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of recording changes in the human's ability to react on time-connected signal discrimination includes at least one step of recording changes in the human's ability to change reaction time after appearance of a stimulus, to estimate time intervals between the appearance of two stimuli, and to discriminate time-connected patterns of stimuli. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human's visual system includes the visual system of humans operating at least one of technical machines, weapon systems, land vehicles, water vehicles and air vehicles. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retinal disease is glaucoma. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retinal disease is retinitis pigmentosa. 
   
   
       22 . A device for treating a retinal disease in a human comprising:
 at least one optical stimuli presenting means;   a fixation point means allowing the fixation of the human's view;   means for entering the human's response on optical stimuli perceived;   means for allowing a control of the at least one optical stimuli presenting means in accordance with the performance of the human responding to optical stimuli perceived; and   a central data processing means for recording, storing, processing and emitting data from the optical stimuli presenting means, the fixation point means, the means for entering the human's response, and the means for allowing a control of said at least one optical stimuli presenting means.   
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , the device further comprising:
 means for locating and defining one or more zones of vision within the human's visual system that include a zone of intact vision and zone outside the visual region;   means for defining a treatment area which is located within at least one of said zones;   means for treating the human's visual system by presenting optical stimuli to the human's visual system;   means for recording changes in the characteristics of the human's visual system;   means for adapting the location and definition of the stimulus presentation to said at least one zone, according to said changes; and   means for reiterating the previous steps continuously so as to improve the human's overall visual system.   
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein only the zone of intact vision is treated. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the zone of intact vision and at least one zone of deteriorated vision, residual vision function, and partial visual function injury are treated. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 22 , additionally comprising means for at least one of fixing and supporting the head of the human. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said optical stimuli-emitting means are light emitting means. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the light emitting means are light emitting means for light of at least one of variable color, luminance, intensity, and shape. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein said light emitting means includes a screen. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the screen may include a computer screen, a video screen, or a projection screen. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein said light emitting means includes a visual projection device. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the projection device includes virtual reality goggles or a helmet. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said fixation point means allowing the fixation of the human's view is a colored mark. 
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein said colored mark is of variable color, allowing a control of the human's angle of view. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said control means allows a control of said at least one optical stimuli presenting means in accordance with the quality of the response on said optical stimuli. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said means for entering the human's response on optical stimuli perceived includes a means for recording changes in the human's ability to react on time-connected signal discrimination. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the means for recording changes in the human's ability to react on time-connected signal discrimination includes at least one of an ability to change reaction time after appearance of a stimulus, to estimate time intervals between the appearance of two stimuli, and to discriminate time-connected patterns of stimuli.