In all cases of stroke, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen which causes damage to its tissue. However, there are several types of stroke. The effects of a stroke vary from individual to individual and depend largely on which type of stroke is experienced and the area of the brain that is affected.

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is by far the most common type of stroke, occurring in over 83 percent of cases2. The underlying cause of ischemic stroke is fatty deposits lining blood vessels. The damage to the brain from this type of stroke occurs when a blood clot forms and obstructs a blood vessel that supplies oxygen to the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Occurring in fewer than 17 percent of cases, hemorrhagic stroke is caused by the rupture of a weakened blood vessel2. This rupture causes blood to leak into the brain, where it pools and compresses the brain tissue leading to various neurological symptoms.

Transient Ischemic Attacks

Often referred to as “warning strokes,or mini strokes,” transient ischemic attacks indicate that a patient is at risk for a major stroke. During a transient ischemic attack, a blood clot temporarily blocks blood flow before naturally resolving.

Many strokes occur without warning. However, certain factors may indicate that a patient is at risk for a stroke. These risk factors include transient ischemic attacks, cardiovascular disease, and advanced age. Patients with cardiovascular disease can reduce their risk of a stroke by effectively managing their condition.

Cardiovascular Disease

The presence of cardiovascular disease — characterized by fatty deposits in the blood vessels and/or narrowing of the arteries — represents a risk factor for ischemic stroke. This risk can be managed through anticoagulants or antiplatelets — drugs that interfere with the clotting ability of the blood, thus helping prevent major blockages.

Age

Advanced age, especially in conjunction with cardiovascular disease, is the most commonly cited risk factor for stroke. Ways to prevent stroke include managing high blood pressure by maintaining proper weight, avoiding drugs known to cause hypertension, and eating foods with less salt. Quitting smoking also reduces the chance of stroke.

Only an experienced medical professional can definitively diagnose a stroke using various imaging tests. However, stroke has several characteristic symptoms, including sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the face or body; sudden confusion or an inability to speak or walk; sudden vision changes; and sudden, severe headaches. If you experience or witness any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

The effects of stroke are variable and diverse; they depend on where and to what degree the brain was affected. However, one rule holds true: because the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and vice versa, a stroke affecting one side of the brain will cause problems in the opposite side of the body.

A stroke may cause one or more of the following:

• Vision problems
• Paralysis in one side of the body
• Balance problems
• Personality/behavioral changes
• Speech and language problems
• Memory loss

Stroke can cause a variety of vision problems, including:

• Loss of one half or one quarter of the visual field (hemianopia/hemianopsia or quadrantanopia)
• Double vision
• Vertigo/dizziness
• Difficulty reading
• Difficulty recognizing faces, letters, numbers, etc.

Please consult the page on types of vision loss for more details on vision problems common in the survivors of stroke and brain injury.

In the past, stroke-related vision loss was considered untreatable. However, research has led to significant advances in Stroke and Vision Rehabilitation techniques.

Even if a stroke survivor perceives no problems with his or her vision, he or she should have a vision evaluation as soon as possible after the stroke occurs. Ideally, this evaluation should be done by a doctor that is familiar with Vision Restoration Therapy. Visit our VRT directory to locate a Vision Restoration Therapy prescribing doctor.

Spontaneous Improvements

Within up to three months of a stroke, some resolution of vision or other problems may occur spontaneously — that is, naturally and with no conscious effort. However, stroke survivors are often left with lingering vision difficulties even after spontaneous improvement. Thus, many stroke survivors have turned to Strokes and Vision Rehabilitation through NovaVision® Vision Restoration Therapy to deal with their vision problems.

Formal Vision Rehabilitation — NovaVision VRT

Highly advanced rehabilitation therapies such as NovaVision® Vision Restoration Therapy pick up where spontaneous recovery leaves off. Management believes this Vision Rehabilitation can provide significant visual gains for stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors by triggering or “jump starting” a process called neuroplasticity, whereby the brain is able to repair itself and overcome the damaged areas of the brain.

To learn more about vision loss after stroke or brain injury, as well as NovaVision VRT as a Strokes and Vision Rehabilitation, please browse our website, contact NovaVision Client Services, or call 1.888.205.0800.