Magnetic resonance imaging of the vision centre of the brain in visually impaired versus normally sighted participants

This study is using brain MRI scans to look at differences in the visual part of the brain (the primary visual cortex) between people who have serious vision loss and those with normal sight. Researchers hope this information will help surgeons better identify the visual cortex during brain operations, reducing the risk of accidentally damaging it. Both people with vision loss and sighted volunteers are invited to participate. You may be eligible if: - You are 18 years of age or older - You are a sighted control with vision of 6/12 or better on an eye chart, OR - You have had untreatable vision loss (20/200 or worse) for more than 12 months due to conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration - You had normal vision at some point in adulthood (for the vision-impaired group) - Your visual cortex is intact You may NOT be eligible if: - You have had a traumatic injury to the back of your brain - You have cognitive impairment or dementia - You have active psychiatric conditions such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia - You are claustrophobic (cannot tolerate an MRI machine) Talk to your doctor about whether this trial might be right for you.