Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Techniques for the Recovery of Unilateral Visual Impairment After Stroke: A Systematic Review
Main Article Content
Keywords
noninvasive brain stimulation, stroke, unilateral visual impairment
Abstract
According to data from the Global Stroke Report 2025, stroke accounted for 10.72% of all deaths worldwide in 2021. Monocular visual field defects represent one of the most prevalent and severe cognitive impairments following stroke, with a prevalence rate reaching up to 30%. Current conventional treatments for monocular visual field defects yield limited efficacy, whilst non-invasive brain stimulation techniques are advancing rapidly. With the continuous development of these non-invasive brain stimulation technologies, an increasing body of research indicates that they may offer certain restorative effects for post-stroke hemianopia. To synthesize the effects of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques in the recovery of unilateral visual impairment after stroke. A comprehensive search was conducted in six databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wan fang, and VIP, as of January 3, 2026. The articles were screened based on the exclusion criteria. The included articles were analyzed based on their impact on visual function improvement, quality of life, and adverse effects. Sixteen studies were analyzed, demonstrating that noninvasive brain stimulation significantly improved visual function and quality of life for patients. Additionally, adverse effects were minimal. Noninvasive brain stimulation technology shows promise in the recovery of unilateral visual impairment after stroke. However, further multi-center, large-sample, high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to verify its efficacy and safety.
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