Vision Rehabilitation Post Stroke / Brain Injury – How It Works

Developed by NovaVision™ and based on advanced research in neuroplasticity, Vision Restoration Therapy consists of three simple steps: evaluation, treatment, and results. This method of vision rehabilitation can treat many types of vision loss post stroke or brain injury, including hemianopia, quadrantanopia, scotoma (blind spots), and visual field cut / low vision. After an evaluation at a VRT Center, vision rehabilitation is completed at home during daily therapy sessions.

Evaluation
Treatment
- Performing VRT
Results
- Physical Therapy for the Brain
Locate a VRT Center

Evaluation

The first step of NovaVision VRT™ Vision Restoration Therapy™ is an evaluation and diagnostic testing. Using this evaluation, your doctor will determine whether VRT is an appropriate therapy for you. During this process, the following generally occurs:

You receive an evaluation from a physician at a VRT Center. You will need to bring a recent copy of your neurological and ophthalmological reports. If these reports are unavailable, the center may perform the necessary tests.
As in all types of vision rehabilitation, the center will evaluate your ability to complete the daily therapy sessions.
Based on your evaluation, VRT diagnostic testing may be recommended and scheduled. The testing consists of three 15-minute sessions. The total appointment will last approximately two hours.

Clinicians at the VRT Center use VRT diagnostic test results to create customized vision rehabilitation modules specific to your condition. You will be provided with these at-home therapy modules to perform on your VRT medical device.

Treatment

Vision Restoration Therapy is completed at the patient’s home. The vision rehabilitation involves no surgery or medication of any kind.

Vision rehabilitation consists of daily therapy sessions, prescribed in time intervals based on individual needs and abilities. Vision rehabilitation is performed six days a week for a period of six to seven months. Each therapy module takes approximately one month to complete.

Performing VRT

Patients perform vision rehabilitation seated in front of a VRT medical device. You will be instructed on how best to complete the sessions, including the type of environment in which to set up the medical device, comfortable positioning, and how to start and respond to each session.

Throughout the vision rehabilitation sessions, you will focus your eyes on a specific point displayed on the monitor. During each session, stimuli will appear on the monitor, and you will respond as instructed to confirm that you have seen the stimulus. Repeated exposure to the visual stimuli over time activates neurons in the brain that work to improve your vision through a process called neuroplasticity.

Results

As each module of vision rehabilitation is completed, NovaVision will evaluate your results and update your next therapy module to optimize your progress. Typically, patients who require vision rehabilitation post brain injury or stroke need time for impaired brain functions to recover. After most injuries, therapy can help restore function.

Physical Therapy for the Brain

Consider Vision Restoration Therapy a personalized physical therapy program for the brain. As with any rehabilitation program, consistent performance of VRT on the part of the patient is required to produce results. Vision rehabilitation post stroke or brain injury is gradual, though for some patients the first improvements are noticeable as early as a few months after therapy begins.

In a recent retrospective study of Vision Restoration Therapy, more than 70 percent of patients who completed VRT showed improvements in their vision and reported an enhanced quality of life.

Locate a VRT Center

The first step to restoring your vision and enhancing your quality of life is to locate a center that offers Vision Restoration Therapy. Locate a VRT Center in your area using our center directory.

Learn More about Vision Rehabilitation Post Brain Injury or Stroke

To learn more about Vision Restoration Therapy or the process of vision rehabilitation post stroke or brain injury, please explore the following sections of our site:

For further information about the VRT process, please contact NovaVision by email or call us at 1.866.414.0009.