Vision and Psychosis: A Clinical Translational Perspective

The visual system, as one of the most well-understood components of the central nervous system, offers a unique framework for understanding mechanistic aspects of psychosis. This review explores the clinical translational potential of visual system alterations in psychosis spectrum disorders, emphasizing their relevance across neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes. The current evidence supporting the clinical significance of visual alterations is reviewed, covering aspects from the retina to low- and mid-level visual regions of the brain, emphasizing the feasibility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of vision science tools compared to more invasive, burdensome, and costly neuroimaging biomarkers. Additionally, this review discusses the therapeutic promise of visual system assessments for guiding personalized treatments, monitoring responses to novel pharmacological agents, and advancing approaches such as visual remediation and non-invasive brain stimulation to target vision-related symptoms in psychosis spectrum disorders. By addressing current gaps and proposing a roadmap for integrating these tools into psychiatric research and clinical care, this review underscores the significant potential of leveraging the visual system to enhance diagnostic precision and improve clinical outcomes in psychosis spectrum disorders.