Frequently Asked Questions About NeuroEyeCoach Therapy

Q. What technical requirements are there – what do I need to have to perform the therapy?

• Internet connection
• PC (desktop or laptop) with Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8 or 10. NeuroEyeCoach is not compatible with Apple OS, however can be used with an Apple computer if Windows or a program such as Parallels (www.parallels.com) is installed.
• Screen size of 15” (diagonal) or greater is required. Minimum screen resolution is 1024(W) x 768(H) and NeuroEyeCoach will not operate below this minimum resolution.
• Some familiarity with computer operation and Internet browsing. NeuroEyeCoach requires an initial download and run of an Installation program from the NovaVision website portal. Your progress reports are also downloaded from the same portal.

Please note that, prior to completing the online questionnaire and online font-size test, the NovaVision portal will run a check on the technical attributes of the computer equipment being used to access the portal and will inform you if the technical requirements are not met.

All technical requirements are also stated on the website for your review.

Q. Can I perform the therapy on two different computers, for example, my desktop and my laptop?

As long as both computers meet the technical requirements you can perform the therapy on both; your position in the therapy program will be synchronised each time you log on and will always start at the correct position on whichever device is used.

Q. How can I see what kind of operating software I am currently running?

Click on your Start Menu and right click on Computer/My Computer and select Properties.

The window displayed below will open and your Operating System information will be visible under Windows Edition.

Q. How can I determine my screen resolution?

Right click on your desktop and select Display Options/Screen Resolution which will reveal the window below.

Q. I like to set my screen resolution lower so that the fonts on my screen appear larger, can I do that with NeuroEyeCoach?

As long as the screen resolution is not set to lower than the minimum resolution stated above, NeuroEyeCoach will be able to operate. If you prefer to set your resolution lower than the minimum requirement, you will need to adjust it before each therapy session using the same Screen Resolution window pictured above. If you forget, a warning will appear requesting you to adjust your resolution.

The font size of the symbols on the screen is set by the font size test, carried out as part of the registration and at the outset of the program.

Q. Why are you not supporting service Windows XP service pack 2 (or earlier)?

Windows XP Service Pack 2 is currently not supported by Microsoft and is not compatible with the technical framework and pre-requisites required for NeuroEyeCoach.

Q. I am currently running Windows XP Service Pack 3. I understand Microsoft has stopped supporting this. What will that mean in terms of being able to perform the therapy?

The current version of NeuroEyeCoach currently supports Windows XP Service Pack 3 and will continue to do so regardless of Microsoft’s support of the operating system. This may be subject to change for subsequent releases of NeuroEyeCoach.

Q. I have an Apple computer, can I run NeuroEyeCoach?

NeuroEyeCoach will not run on an Apple operating system. However, Windows can be installed on all modern Apple computers and there are also programs such as Parallels (www.parallels.com) that enable Windows-based programs to be run on Apple computers. NeuroEyeCoach cannot be used with an iPad although you will be able to access the Portal and review your progress and reports on an iPad if you wish.

Q. Who is eligible for NeuroEyeCoach?

Most patients with visual field defects as a result of neurological trauma, who have some residual vision and no physical damage to the eye, are eligible for NeuroEyeCoach and may benefit from the treatment. However, there are certain conditions in which NeuroEyeCoach may not be suitable or which may interfere with the effectiveness of NeuroEyeCoach:

• • Patients with a history of seizure disorders, especially those who are photosensitive, must NOT undergo NovaVision NeuroEyeCoach until they have consulted with their health care professional. In patients with uncontrolled photosensitive seizure disorders, visual stimulation may have adverse effects including, but not limited to, seizures.
  • Those with significant cognitive deficits.
  • We recommend that patients suffering from acute inflammation of the eyes or central nervous system delay therapy until the acute phase is over.

Patients need to have the ability to sit upright and concentrate on a task without distraction for 15-20 minutes, two-six times a day for a maximum of two hours and for a minimum of three times a week. Because the treatment requires patients to be seated for extended periods, patients who have been previously diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or who may have an increased risk of experiencing DVT, should consult with their physician before initiating the VRT therapy program.

For full details of the patient requirements, contraindications, warnings, and precautions, please view the Patient Requirements section.

Q. Why has NovaVision introduced a Saccadic therapy?

NovaVision’s strategic goal is to be the “gold standard” for the treatment of visual field deficits resulting from neurological brain trauma such as stroke or brain injury. Over recent decades, significant research has been conducted into this area with most treatment benefits attained by both restorative and compensatory techniques. Numerous studies have shown that light stimulation therapy aimed at restoring visual function, such as NovaVision VRT, and visual search and saccadic therapy programs aimed at compensating for vision loss, such as NeuroEyeCoach, are effective and improve patients’ functioning in daily life activities.

Furthermore, it is strongly believed by NovaVision’s Scientific Advisory Board that these two therapy techniques are complementary to one another. The two therapies address different visual disabilities resulting from neurologically-induced vision loss: loss of part of the visual field and difficulty with eye movements, which affects the ability to integrate visual information. NovaVision VRT provides partial restoration of the lost visual field while NeuroEyeCoach has been specifically developed to increase the efficiency of eye movements and re-train the brain’s ability to integrate visual information between the left and right-hand sides.

Q. How do I know I will get some benefit?

NeuroEyeCoach is based on several decades of scientific research pioneered by Professor Josef Zihl formerly of the Max Planck Institute in Munich. The therapy is a computer-based eye movement treatment approach that has been the subject of numerous clinical studies, information on which is provided elsewhere in this website. NeuroEyeCoach distils all the findings from this clinical research into one comprehensive therapeutic product aimed at improving a patient’s ability to scan their environment more efficiently.

The historical clinical data leads us to believe you will experience a positive outcome.

Q. Is there clinical data or materials I can share with my physician?

The PC-based treatment approach was originally developed by Prof. Zihl (1988, 1990) and has since been used with various modifications in 13 studies with a total of 551 patients with homonymous visual field loss and persistent visual disabilities.

The main outcome of saccadic therapy is a significant improvement in visual search performance accompanied by more efficient eye movements and a reduction in visual disability.

There is a lot of information on the website under the Physician tab for review, including information on the clinical studies.

Q: I don’t understand the difference between NovaVision VRT and NeuroEyeCoach?

These therapies follow two different approaches to dealing with visual field deficits resulting from neurological brain damage:

Restoration: aims at improving visual sensitivity within the blind area by repeated stimulation, allowing patients to detect objects within the blind field. Examples of this type of therapy include NovaVision’s Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT) and NovaVision’s Sight Science Neuro-Eye Therapy (NeET).

Compensation: patients learn to direct their gaze towards the affected area bringing previously unseen objects into sight thereby allowing the patient to make the most of their remaining vision. NeuroEyeCoach is an example of this type of therapy.

Q. If I am considering which therapy to perform first – what is the Company’s recommendation?

The sequencing of the two therapies is entirely a matter of personal preference and the Company does not make a recommendation. NeuroEyeCoach is underpinned by several decades of scientific research, which shows that by training you to make effective eye movements you quickly become able to better cope with your daily tasks. NeuroEyeCoach can typically be completed in 2–4 weeks with benefits being experienced within this time frame. NovaVision VRT is a restoration therapy, where some lost vision is regained, and typically it will be approximately three months before you start to experience a tangible benefit from the therapy’s routine.

You are not able to perform both therapies at the same time so must have completed the initial therapy before moving onto the other therapy.