When a person experiences a traumatic brain injury, the results can be quite debilitating. Rehabilitation for the patient requires a multi-disciplinary team, most often including a neuro-optometrist.
The majority of individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries have some form of visual sensory and oculomotor dysfunction. (Brain Injury Medicine: Principles and Practice, Ross Zafonte, MD) Symptoms can include light sensitivity, difficulty with motion in the periphery, spatial confusion, dizziness/balance problems, nausea, blurred vision, headaches, eyestrain, double vision, poor reading comprehension, or difficulty looking at screens.
When these vision problems are not dealt with, it creates a significant gap in the rehabilitative process that interferes with recovery. But because vision is learned, deficiencies can be retrained. Whether it’s a U of MN Athlete, an Army soldier, someone who slipped on the ice, or a kid who got hurt on the playground, head trauma patients can benefit from neuro-optometric rehabilitation to regain their visual abilities and rebuild their lives.
Is a vision problem getting in the way of your concussion recovery?