Efficacy of Biofeedback Training for Glaucoma

February 10, 2026 updated by: Monica Daibert Nido, University Health Network, Toronto

Efficacy of Biofeedback Training for Visual Function and Quality of Life in Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluates the efficacy of visual biofeedback training on visual function and quality of life in individuals with glaucoma. Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy that can lead to irreversible vision loss, including impaired fixation stability, reduced retinal sensitivity, and decreased functional vision. Biofeedback training is a visual rehabilitation technique designed to help patients improve fixation stability and optimize use of remaining visual function by training eye movements toward retinal areas with better sensitivity.

Seventy participants with glaucoma will be randomized to either a biofeedback training intervention group or a control group. Visual function outcomes, including fixation stability, retinal sensitivity, visual acuity, reading speed, contrast sensitivity, and quality of life, will be assessed at baseline and follow-up visits. This study aims to determine whether biofeedback training can improve visual function and quality of life in patients with glaucoma.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and is characterized by progressive damage to the optic nerve, resulting in visual field loss, impaired fixation stability, and reduced retinal sensitivity. In advanced stages, patients may develop unstable or eccentric fixation, leading to significant functional visual impairment and reduced quality of life. Current glaucoma treatments primarily aim to control intraocular pressure and do not address the rehabilitation of visual function once damage has occurred.

This prospective, randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy of visual biofeedback training (BT) as a rehabilitation strategy for improving visual function and quality of life in individuals with glaucoma. Biofeedback training is a non-invasive intervention that uses visual and auditory feedback to guide participants in directing their eye movements toward a preferred retinal locus with better sensitivity and stability, thereby optimizing the use of residual vision.

A total of 70 participants with a prior diagnosis of glaucoma will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the biofeedback training group (n=35) or a control group (n=35). Participants in the intervention group will undergo five weekly sessions of biofeedback training, each lasting approximately 20 minutes. Participants in the control group will receive standard clinical assessments and will be offered biofeedback training after completion of the control period.

Primary outcome measures include fixation stability and retinal sensitivity assessed using microperimetry, best-corrected visual acuity for distance and near vision, reading speed, and vision-related quality of life. Secondary outcome measures include preferred retinal locus characteristics, contrast sensitivity, oculomotor function (saccades and smooth pursuit), visual field testing, and optical coherence tomography parameters.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at follow-up visits, including 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and up to 2 years post-intervention for the treatment group. Data analysis will be conducted using an intention-to-treat approach. This study seeks to determine whether visual biofeedback training can improve functional vision and quality of life in individuals with glaucoma and to explore whether treatment effects vary by age and baseline retinal sensitivity.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2S8
        • Recruiting
        • University Health Network/ Toronto Western Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18-95 years old.
  • Glaucoma cases with adequate intraocular pressure control.
  • Presence of paracentral scotomata within two degrees of fixation.
  • Ability to follow instructions for biofeedback training.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior or current low vision rehabilitation treatment.
  • Ocular diseases or severe clinical conditions unrelated to glaucoma
  • Media opacities that prevent reliable microperimetry testing in both eyes.
  • Inability to perform study assessments or follow instructions for biofeedback training.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Biofeedback Training (BT)
Participants randomized to this arm will receive visual biofeedback training in addition to standard clinical care. The intervention consists of five weekly in-office training sessions, each lasting approximately 20 minutes. During training, participants are guided using visual and auditory feedback to direct eye movements toward a preferred retinal locus with better retinal sensitivity and fixation stability. Visual function and quality of life assessments will be conducted at baseline and at scheduled follow-up visits.
Other: Biofeedback Training
Visual Biofeedback Training
Active Comparator: Control (Delayed Biofeedback Training)
Participants randomized to this arm will undergo standard clinical assessments without biofeedback training during the initial study period. Visual function and quality of life assessments will be conducted at baseline and at the 9-week follow-up visit. After completion of the control period, participants will be offered biofeedback training as part of standard clinical care.
Other: Biofeedback Training
Visual Biofeedback Training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of Life Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Quality of Life using the MAssof 48 questions validated questionnaire
Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Visual acuity
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up visits at 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years post-intervention
Distance visual acuity measured with ETDRS charts at 4 meters
Baseline and follow-up visits at 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years post-intervention
Fixation Stability
Time Frame: Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Measured with the MP3 MICROPERIMETER
Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Near Vision
Time Frame: Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Measured with the Colenbrander charts at 100% contrast in ETDRS logMAR.
Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Reading speed
Time Frame: Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Measured with the MNRead App
Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Contrast Sensitivity
Time Frame: Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Measured with the VCTS charts.
Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Retinal Sensitivity
Time Frame: Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.
Measured with the Nidek MP3 microperimeter
Baseline, 9 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Health Network, Toronto

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • K. Schuster A, Erb C, M. Hoffmann E, Dietlein T, Pfeiffer N. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma. Dtsch Ärztebl Int. 2020 Mar;117(13):225-34. 2. Kang JM, Tanna AP. Glaucoma. Med Clin North Am. 2021 May;105(3):493-510. 3. Vingolo EM, Casillo L, Mecarelli G, Limoli PG. Rehabilitative strategies after filtering procedure in glaucoma. Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 7;12(1):16877. 4. Tham YC, Li X, Wong TY, Quigley HA, Aung T, Cheng CY. Global Prevalence of Glaucoma and Projections of Glaucoma Burden through 2040: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ophthalmology. 2014 Nov 1;121(11):2081-90. 5. Tomairek RH, Aboud SA, Hassan M, Mohamed AH. Studying the role of 10-2 visual field test in different stages of glaucoma. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2020 Jul;30(4):706-13. 6. Kameda T, Tanabe T, Hangai M, Ojima T, Aikawa H, Yoshimura N. Fixation behavior in advanced stage glaucoma assessed by the MicroPerimeter MP-1. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2009 Nov;53(6):580-7. 7. Verboschi F, Domanico D, Nebbioso M, Corradetti G, Zaccaria Scalinci S, Vingolo EM. New trends in visual rehabilitation with MP-1 microperimeter biofeedback: optic neural dysfunction. Funct Neurol. 2013;28(4):285-91. 8. Quaranta L, Riva I, Gerardi C, Oddone F, Floriano I, Konstas AGP. Quality of Life in Glaucoma: A Review of the Literature. Adv Ther. 2016;33(6):959-81. 9. Wilson MR, Coleman AL, Yu F, Bing EG, Sasaki IF, Berlin K, et al. Functional status and well-being in patients with glaucoma as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 questionnaire. Ophthalmology. 1998 Nov;105(11):2112-6. 10.Nguyen M. The cost of vision loss and blindness in Canada. 11.Misawa M, Pyatova Y, Sen A, Markowitz M, Markowitz SN, Reber M, et al. Innovative vision rehabilitation method for hemianopsia: Comparing pre- and post audio-luminous biofeedback training for ocular motility improving visual functions and quality of life. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1151736. 12.Daibert-Nido M, Pyatova Y, Markowitz M, Taheri-Shirazi M, Markowitz SN. Post audio-visual

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 30, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 23-5650

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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