The effectiveness of non-drug rehabilitation methods for hemianopia after a cerebrovascular accident

A homonymous visual field defect (homonymous hemianopia) is the most common visual dysfunction after a cerebrovascular accident and is associated with involvement of the postchiasmatic pathways (usually the optic radiation or peristriate cortex). Patients with hemianopia experience difficulties with daily activities, such as navigation, visual search, recognition of people and objects, and reading. This review presents current data on use and effectiveness of various non-drug methods for neurorehabilitation in patients with homonymous visual field defects, including approaches for compensation, replacement, and recovery (trainings for restoring vision, stimulus response practices, systematic training of eye movement, use of immersive technologies, multisensory and transcranial non-invasive stimulation, etc.), as well as analyzes the available scientific data on the neurophysiological basis of recovery of patients with hemianopia after a cerebrovascular accident. Activation of neuroplasticity mechanisms underlying rehabilitation in homonymous hemianopia after stroke, and targeted management of cortical reorganization processes, help achieve the best recovery of visual functions.