Visual Field Deficits and Vision Rehab Post Stroke or Brain Injury

Visual field deficits post stroke or brain injury are extremely common. Various types of vision loss, such as hemianopia, quadrantanopia, scotoma, and low vision, affect over 50 percent of stroke and brain injury survivors. In addition, visual and visual-cognitive disorders can negatively impact nearly all aspects of a patient’s vision – from balance to color recognition to the width of the visual field. Symptoms vary widely, ranging from subtle to dramatic.

• Diagnosing Visual Field Deficits Post Stroke / Brain Injury
  • Spontaneous Improvement and Recovery
• Types of Visual Field Deficits and Their Impact on Daily Life
  • Hemianopia and Quadrantanopia
  • Scotoma
  • Diffuse Field Defects (Low Vision)
  • Other Visual Field Deficits Common Post Stroke / Brain Injury
• Vision Rehab Post Stroke / Brain Injury
• Learn More about Visual Field Deficits and Vision Rehab Post Stroke / Brain Injury

Diagnosing Visual Field Deficits Post Stroke / Brain Injury

Unfortunately, visual field deficits post stroke or brain injury are commonly overlooked early on as physicians focus on treating the injury itself. To counteract this tendency, patients should undergo a vision evaluation as soon as possible after their injury. Even if a patient does not perceive any problems with his or her vision, defects may be present, and they can have an extensive impact on the patient’s life and rehabilitation efforts.

Spontaneous Improvement and Recovery

Within three months of a stroke or brain injury, it is common for patients to experience spontaneous improvement or full resolution of their visual field deficits. In other words, some vision difficulties will clear up by themselves. In many cases, spontaneous recovery is partial and does not eliminate the need for formal vision rehab post stroke or brain injury.

Types of Visual Field Deficits and Their Impact on Daily Life

Strokes and brain injuries are associated with several types of visual field deficits. These visual field deficits can include blind spots, diffused vision, and other effects that can lead to difficulties in everyday activities. Vision rehab post stroke or brain injury can help address these deficits.

Hemianopia and Quadrantanopia

Hemianopia, also known as hemianopsia or visual field loss, is common among survivors of stroke and brain injury. It is defined as decreased vision or blindness in half of the visual field in one or both eyes. There are various types of hemianopia, including quadrantanopia (quadrantanopsia/quadrantic hemianopia), which is characterized by low vision or blindness in one quarter of the visual field.

Hemianopia’s Impact on Daily Life

Hemianopia and quadrantanopia are associated with the following problems:

• Difficulty reading, watching TV, and performing other daily life activities
• Increased risk of tripping, falling, bumping into objects, being struck by unseen objects, knocking over objects, and similar accidents
• Difficulty keeping one’s place when reading
• Being startled by people or objects that seem to pop out of nowhere

Scotoma

Scotoma, also known as a blind spot, is an area of diminished vision or blindness surrounded by normal or nearly normal vision. A scotoma generally appears as an area of darkness, lightness, or blurring; it can be any shape or size and can affect any region of the visual field.

Scotoma’s Impact on Daily Life

Scotomas are associated with the following issues:

• Limited mobility, especially if scotomas are large and/or numerous
• Difficulty reading
• Needing reading materials to be magnified, as well as greater illumination and contrast
• Difficulty perceiving colors

Diffuse Field Defects (Low Vision)

Low vision, also known as a diffuse field defect, has a range of symptoms. Patients suffering from low vision may experience one or more of the following:

• Overall blurring
• Loss of central vision
• Loss of peripheral vision / tunnel vision
• Multiple field loss (seeing dark objects scattered around objects)

Low Vision’s Impact on Daily Life

Diffuse visual field deficits are associated with the following problems:

• Frustration, depression, and unemployment
• Loss of independence
• Inability to drive safely
• Difficulty reading, watching TV, and using a computer

Other Visual Field Deficits Common Post Stroke / Brain Injury

In addition to low vision, survivors of a stroke or a brain injury may experience one or more of the following:

• Double vision (diplopia)
• Visual balance disorders (characterized by vertigo/dizziness, falling or the sensation of falling, lightheadedness, blurry vision, and/or disorientation)
• Sensitivity to light
• Dry eyes / low blink rate
• Visual hallucinations
• Impaired visual memory (inability to recognize faces, letters, numbers, colors, etc.)

Vision Rehab Post Stroke / Brain Injury

New research into neuroplasticity, as well as the subsequent development of advanced vision rehab technology, has given new hope to survivors of stroke and brain injury. It is important for patients and caregivers to keep the following points in mind:

• Even if patients don’t perceive any problems with their vision, or their visual field deficits seem to spontaneously resolve in the months after their injury, it is important for them to be evaluated by a clinician with experience treating both low vision and brain injuries. An expert evaluation can reveal visual field deficits that patients didn’t know they had. In addition, an undiagnosed visual defect can undermine other rehabilitation efforts, have a devastating impact on daily life, and increase the risk of injuries resulting from poor vision.
• Only an experienced clinician can understand the complex interactions among a patient’s vision problems and plan an appropriate course of vision rehab.
• Vision rehab techniques such as Vision Restoration Therapy may help a patient improve his or her vision, regardless of when the stroke or brain injury occurred. In addition, VRT can address visual field deficits that were previously considered untreatable.
• Vision rehab can be an effective complement to traditional rehabilitation efforts, such as occupational and physical therapy. In addition, vision rehab can give patients a sense of independence and well-being, helping them successfully undergo rehabilitation, re-engage with their hobbies, and more.

Learn More about Visual Field Deficits and Vision Rehab Post Stroke or Brain Injury

To learn more about the various types of visual field deficits, vision rehab post stroke or brain injury, or how to begin vision therapy, please contact NovaVision™ by email or call us at 1.866.414.0009.