Brain damage can impair elementary visual functions as well as higher (cognitive) visual abilities. The majority of brain-damaged patients suffer from homonymous field disorders which impair reading and visual exploration of the hemifield corresponding to the field defect. Other visual functions which can be impaired after brain damage are spatial contrast sensitivity, light and dark adaptation, color vision, and visual space perception including visual spatial orientation. Finally visual-agnosic disorders may impair patient’s ability to correctly identify and recognize objects, faces, and places.

Usually an adequate and effective adaptation to cerebral visual disorders does not take place spontaneously. Therefore, early and systematic rehabilitation is needed. For the treatment of reading and visual exploration disorders specific treatment procedures are available. Most of the patients successfully employ the strategies learned during training sessions in their everyday lives. Thus, these intervention procedures may be considered an effective means to reduce the degree of visual disabilities in brain-damaged patients.