| Frequently
asked questions by patients and relatives |
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| Click on one of the following headings
to see the relevant questions and answers. |
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| 1 About the NovaVision
VRT Vision Restoration Therapy |
| General information regarding VRT Vision
Therapy. |
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| 2 Suitability
and Therapy Process |
| Information regarding which impairment
has been reviewed for this therapy, treatment course and
more. |
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| About the NovaVision VRT Vision Restoration
Therapy |
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| Which health insurance covers the
expenses for a VRT? |
Vision Restoration Therapy is not yet covered by the
national health system. However, reimbursement of costs
is one of our aims.
At the moment, this therapy belongs to those clinically
tested benefits for which our patients must cover their
own costs. There have, however, been isolated cases of
reimbursement so that a request for coverage is recommended.
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| What does VRT mean? |
| VRT is short for Vision Restoration
Therapy, a vision therapy that the patient can conduct at home
on your own computer. It is aimed at increasing the visual
field. |
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| How do I find out if the patient can expect
success using VRT? |
| The patient will contact us and sends, without
obligation, a copy of his or her ophthalmological and neurological
records. Our evaluation will determine if VRT will be
a promising success measure. We will then gladly
discuss further steps to be taken. |
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| How can I obtain further information? |
| Please contact us. We will gladly send
you information and scientific study material. |
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| How often must the patient practice at home?
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| Using VRT the patient will practice at home
on his or her own computer several times a day, totalling one
hour over a period of 6 months. The individual training
units can be flexibly integrated into the daily routine.
In the first 2-3 months the patient should have as few breaks
as possible, after that breaks are of course permitted
following consultation. The therapy duration will then
be accordingly longer. |
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| Is VRT software easy to use? |
| Even if the patient have had little or no computer
experience it will not be a problem. You will be introduced
to its operation. In order to practice the daily therapy
units only a few keys are utilised. These will be explained
and shown to the patient during the introduction to the
programme. |
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| If questions arise during therapy...
? |
| NovaVision has installed a telephone
hotline for its patients and partner centers that can
be reached Monday to Friday, from 8:00-17:00. The
NovaVision team will answer your
questions from points in the therapy to computer tips
and using the software. |
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| Which services are included in the
Vision Restoration Therapy? |
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The initial diagnostic
test conducted in a partner center in Germany,
Switzerland, Austria, UK
or at NovaVision in Magdeburg; |
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The preparation of
an individually customised therapy programme
(including software); |
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Monthly evaluation
of therapy results as well as the adjustment of
the programme to results already achieved; |
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Personal care and
support via telephone, mail or email for the duration
of the therapy; |
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A concluding diagnostic
test (conducted here at NovaVision or at a partner
center). |
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| The patient has decided to begin
Visionl Restoration Therapy, now what? |
Following the evaluation of the results
the patient has decided to complete VRT and NovaVision will arrange
an appointment with the patient to conduct the initial diagnostic
test. This will take place either in Germany or at one
of our partner centers in Austria, Switzerland or UK.
If all the requirements for a successful therapy are met
a therapy contract will be completed between your patient
and NovaVision. |
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| Suitability and Treatment Process |
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| Does the amount of time lapsed since
having a stroke or trauma make a difference? |
| No, studies show that even patients
whose damage occurred a long time ago showed good results.
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| Which types of vision impairment
is suitable for treatment with VRT? |
| Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT) is designed for
patients who have suffered a loss in their field of vision
as a result of neurological disease or damage. This type
of impaired vision is often the result of optical nerve
or brain damage (for example stroke, brain trauma and
brain tumor) and can have various characteristics. |
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| How long is the duration of the
therapy? |
| The therapy takes about six months.
If the final diagnostic test shows more areas of residual
vision a continuation of the therapy is suggested. |
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| Is it possible to treat shortsightedness
or longsightedness with the Vision Restoration Therapy? |
| No. VRT is only indicated if the visual
impairment is a result of neurological damage such as
stroke, head injury, visual nerve damage or brain tumor
operations. |
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| What type of improvements have patients
described? |
| Over 65% of treated patients to date
have achieved measurable improvements in their vision
and have therefore reclaimed a part of the quality of
life they had lost. Following six months of vision therapy
in their familiar surroundings at their own computers,
many of our patients can read more easily and resume leisure
and work interests without medications, surgeries or hospital
stays. |
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| Which patients are not suited to
the Visual Restoration Therapy? |
| Patients with photogenic epilepsy may
not be treated. We advise patients who are suffering from
an acute illness of the central nervous system or of the
eyes to delay therapy until the acute phase has passed |
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| Is there an age limit? |
| There is no age limit as long the patient
is in a position to conduct the therapy. |
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| What happens when the therapy has been completed? |
| Following the final diagnostic test
we will discuss the achieved therapy results with you.
If there is the prospect of further improvement the treatment
can be continued. |
