Vision Rehabilitation After Stroke or Brain Injury
NovaVision® Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT) is an at-home, non-invasive rehabilitation therapy that can restore lost vision caused by a stroke, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Vision Restoration Therapy uses a clinically proven, FDA-cleared medical device that targets and stimulates the border of the blind field. The neurostimulation algorithm changes on a regular basis to deliver therapy in the most effective manner.
- The Importance of Vision Rehabilitation
- Who Is Eligible For Vision Restoration Therapy?
- What Vision Rehabilitation Is Not
- What Vision Rehabilitation Can Accomplish
- How Vision Rehabilitation Works
- The Process of Undergoing Vision Rehabilitation
- How to Begin Vision Rehabilitation
The Importance of Vision Rehabilitation
Vision defects can have a drastic impact on a person’s ability to navigate their surroundings, enjoy their hobbies, and avoid injuries. This, in turn, can ruin a person’s self-esteem, confidence, and quality of life. In addition, visual defects, which often go undiagnosed in the face of a serious injury or stroke, can undermine other rehabilitation efforts. For both of these reasons, vision rehabilitation after a stroke or brain injury is worthwhile and often necessary for a stroke or brain injury survivor to enjoy a normal life.
On average Vision Restoration Therapy can help recover a 5 degree border shift (or 12% improvement in stimuli accuracy) in the central visual field. While 5 degrees is the average degree of border shift, some patients have achieved a larger degree of border shift. This 5 degree border shift can make a significant impact in the daily lives of patients1. It is with the central 5 degrees of vision that one reads and has the ability to discriminate detail. This improvement can also result in avoidance of obstacles and collisions. To envision the impact of 5 degrees, hold out a piece of paper at arm’s length in front of you with your palms facing in. Imagine that your right visual field is blind. A 5 degree improvement is the equivalent of seeing an additional 4 inches to the right. This provides an appreciation of the changes that can be achieved with VRT.
Who Is Eligible For Vision Restoration Therapy?
Most patients with visual field defects are eligible for Vision Restoration Therapy and may benefit from the treatment. However, there are certain conditions in which VRT may not be suitable. Those with photosensitive seizure disorder, certain eye diseases, and significant cognitive deficits may find that their condition interferes with VRT. In addition, we recommend that patients suffering from acute diseases of the central nervous system or eye delay therapy until the acute phase is over.
What Vision Rehabilitation Is Not
Research-based methods of vision rehabilitation such as Vision Restoration Therapy should not be confused with compensatory techniques or self-directed regimens of eye treatments such as the Bates Method, the See Clearly Method™, or Vision for Life. The method used in these vision treatments is to focus on the eye instead of the brain in order to improve vision. Vision rehabilitation stimulates the brain into making changes by forming new neural connections to compensate for damaged areas in the visual cortex of the brain. Through this compensation, vision may be restored instead of coping with the problem.
What Vision Rehabilitation Can Accomplish
Vision rehabilitation may help patients recover:
- Fundamental visual skills and abilities
- Visual ease, comfort, and efficiency
- Processing and interpretation of visual information
Vision rehabilitation after a stroke or brain injury through Vision Restoration Therapy can bring about improvements in one or more of these areas. 88% of VRT patients have mentioned receiving at least one significant benefit from VRT2. Get patient perspectives on the impact of VRT or read more about therapy benefits. VRT can help recover Hemianopia, Quadrantanopia and, Scotoma type of vision loss, which are common after a stroke or TBI.
How Vision Rehabilitation Works
Vision rehabilitation works by stimulating the brain to heal itself through a process called neuroplasticity. Vision loss following a stroke or a traumatic brain injury stems from damage to the brain. Stimulating the brain in consistent, precise ways can help it to reorganize and heal, leading to partial or full recovery of vision.
Given the complexity of the brain and that the study of neuroplasticity is in its infancy, some questions were originally raised that vision rehabilitation was occurring through eye movements instead of through self-repair in the brain.
A study conducted using an eye tracker, which monitors eye movement, showed that patients keep their eyes within 2 degrees to either side of the central fixation point 99 percent of the time3.
Other evidence that VRT is not attributed to eye movement is a study conducted at Columbia University that used an fMRI which shows changes in brain activity after VRT suggesting cerebral reorganization4.
The Process of Undergoing Vision Rehabilitation
Vision Restoration Therapy involves going to a doctor for an evaluation, an at-home diagnostic test, and a commitment to regular therapy sessions. For more detailed information, please read how Vision Restoration Therapy works.
How to Begin Vision Rehabilitation
If you are interested in undergoing vision rehabilitation after suffering a stroke or brain injury, call NovaVision Patient Services to verify your candidacy and to locate a prescribing doctor in your area. A neuro-ophthalmologist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, neurologist or physiatrist will determine if you are a candidate for VRT, and if you are, the doctor will write a prescription. After paying for the therapy you will complete a couple of tests to evaluate your vision deficit, and NovaVision clinicians will analyze the test results to create and send you a customized therapy program. You may contact NovaVision by email or call us at 1.866.414.0009 to ask questions or request more information.
- Romano JG, et al, Visual field changes after a rehabilitation intervention: Vision restoration therapy, J Neurol SCI (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jns.2008.06.026
- Mueller I, Poggel DA, Kenkel S, Kasten E and Sabel BA. Vision Restoration Therapy after brain damage: subjective improvements of activities of daily life and their relationship to visual field enlargements. Visual Impairment Research 2003; 5: 157-178
- (E. Kasten et al. Behavioural Brain Research 175 18-26)
- (Marshall R. et al. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2008 22(2):136-44. Epub 2007 Aug 14)