Remote treatment of intermittent central suppression improves quality-of-life measures

Background

Intermittent central suppression (ICS) is a repetitive intermittent (“on-and-off”) loss of central visual sensation without strabismus or amblyopia. These repetitive seconds-long suppressions have been suggested to create visual confusion and instability that would cause vision symptoms, contribute to reading complaints, and even impair reading.

Methods

Teacher-identified Job Corps students were diagnosed with ICS and then treated with 5-Hz electronic liquid crystal shutter alternate occlusion.

Results

Twenty-six young adult students (19.7 ± 1.6 y) had their ICS treated over 5.9 ± 3.7 months. Suppression periods decreased in length (P < 0.0001) and “binocular” nonsuppressed periods increased in length (P < 0.0001). Overall, College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) quality-of-life (QOL) scores improved (P < 0.0001), 16 reading behavior COVD QOL questions improved (P < 0.0001), and individual QOL questions improved. Posttherapy reading scores (N = 18) improved 3.7 (± 2.6) years (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Treating ICS with electronic alternate occlusion reduced suppression periods, increased binocular periods, and improved symptoms as measured in the COVD QOL questionnaire. Positive changes also occurred in reading scores. These data suggest ICS should be considered a probable cause for symptoms of reading problems.