Dear Editor,

Many neurologists will disagree with the statement “most [patients with homonymous hemianopia] remain handicapped by permanent field loss”. Indeed it is well known that the majority of stroke patients – the largest group among patients affected by visual field lesions - recover, either completely or partially. Further, neuroplasticity is well established and so far no indications suggest a specific resistance of the visual cortex, pathways and anatomic organization to the effects of training-induced peri -lesional neuronal activation.

The authors, however, agree the clinical relevance of visual field training needs a better understanding and therefore initiated an on-going randomized clinical trial. We offer the opinion that neither polemics as voiced in the editorial nor exaggerated claims of treatment effects are helpful for neuroplasticity research and the development of treatment concepts for the many patients disabled from visual field defects.

Henning Mast, Loukas Konias