In the event that a person suffers from traumatic brain injury (TBI), the likelihood of experiencing vision disorders [2] is between 20 and 40 percent. Suffering from vision problems can be very difficult, considering that 80 to 85 percent of learning, activities, cognition, and perception is mediated what we see.
Parts of Vision Effected by TBI in Michigan
There are four parts which human vision is made up of. Those include perception, acuity, field, and motor abilities.
Visual perception allows the interpretation of our surroundings and other information which we receive through the process of visual light interactions in the eye. Acuity of vision describes how clear our eyesight is, from 20/20 or better, down to blurred or fuzzy. Our field of vision is the field of view which we are able to see.
Finally, our visual motor abilities are based on the alignment and direction of our eyes, often referred to as “eye posture.” Eye posture is considered “normal” when the eyes are aligned straight.
A list of common vision problems following TBI has been published by the Optometrists Network [3]. They include:
Difficulties with eye movements, such as:
- Eye tracking ability
- Shifting gaze quickly from one point to the other
- Focusing
- Eye alignment
- Eye teaming
- Depth perception
- Reading difficulties; words appear to move
- Comprehension difficulty
- Memory difficulty
- Headaches with visual tasks
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Inability to maintain visual contact or focus
- Sensitivity to light, glare sensitivity
- Attention and concentration difficulty
- Reduction or loss of visual field (Visual Field Loss)Aching eyes
Treatment of TBI-Related Vision Problems
Treatments of individuals who have suffered TBI and who are experiencing vision problems [4] include:
- Prescription or Prism glasses: Corrective lenses can greatly improve blurred vision, and the use of prism infused glass can help the eyes adapt to how the eye processes incoming light, allowing improvement of double vision and loss of field.
- Magnification: In many cases, simply using a pair of glasses with magnified vision allows for more comfortable reading, or completing tasks on a cell phone.
- Changes in Lighting: Light sensitivity can be treated by adapting the environmental lighting to better accommodate the sufferer.
- Vision therapy: Much like physical rehabilitation, this technique reteaches the eyes to work the way that they are supposed to.
- Patching: Another technique for aiding in double vision, partial covering of the field of view blocks the visual cues that cause the issue.
- Technologies: Assistive technologies are abundant and are becoming better and more common as advancements in the vision industry are made.
Contact a Michigan Brain Injury Attorney
The effects of a brain injury can be dramatic especially when it includes vision related problems. If you have vision difficulties after suffering a brain injury, it is necessary to speak to an experienced Michigan brain injury attorney. Call Michigan Injury Lawyers at 313-GET-HELP for a free consultation today.
References:
[1] http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/03/vision-and-rehabilitation-after-brain-trauma-part-1-.html
[2] http://www.brainline.org/content/2010/02/vision-issues-after-brain-injury-brainline-talks-with-dr-gregory-goodrich.html
[3] http://www.optometrists.org/about_optometrists.html
[4] http://www.msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Vision-Problems-And-Traumatic-Brain-Injury