Modalities, therapies and exercise our clinic utilizes:

Traumatic Head Injury
Neurological Event

The neuro-optometric exam will identify how vision has been affected by the neurological event. 

This could include eye movements and tracking, eye alignment and binocular vision, depth perception, reduced clarity of vision and the ability to focus, peripheral vision, and vision as it affects balance, as well as eye health.  Visual perceptual evaluations may also need to be done.

Individuals who have suffered a traumatic head injury, or neurological event such as a stroke, bleed, tumor or surgery for a tumor can be affected in many areas of their lives, from the way their body works, how they receive and organize sensory information, to how they are able to think and concentrate. In the hospital they often begin the rehabilitation process as soon as they can open their eyes. It is well known and understood that beginning to work on recovery as early as possible is key to maximize return of skills and function.

Visual Symptoms from neurological damage:

• Reduced clarity at distance or near
• Double vision can cause confusion
• Loss of side vision can cause spatial disorientation
• eye muscles paralysis
• eye movement difficulties affecting smooth tracking
• reduced comprehension
• difficulty concentrating.
• reduced eye-hand coordination

*Communication problems such as aphasia can make describing the vision problems very difficult.  Any of the difficulties described above may affect mobility and safety.

For these reasons we promote an early identification approach to vision loss. Once the patient is medically stable we recommend a visual rehabilitation evaluation. From this we will be able to make recommendations for glasses, and implementation of various therapy recommendations. Many times the rehab therapist (OT, PT or ST) will be able to follow through with the vision exercises while the patient is still in the hospital, through home health, or outpatient settings.

Therapies May Include

Therapies may include placement of a temporary prism on current glasses, vision exercises, or possibly referral to other specific therapy programs. Progress evaluations are done periodically to monitor progress and update the therapy plan.

Vision and Balance Exercises

Exercises to help reintegrate vision and balance.

We balance with our eyes, our muscle sense (proprioception) and the inner ear or vestibularT system. Balance problems can affect visual function and vision problems can affect balance.  Therapy approaches which involve both systems tend to be the most effective.  Use of different head and body positions, unstable surfaces, balance boards and trampolines can all stimulate this integration.

Balance Based Torso Weighted Vest

By Cindy Gibson-Horn, PT

Cindy Gibson-Horn is a physical therapist who developed an effective approach to helping patients with balance disorders.  Doing research through an NIH grant she has developed the technology of the Balance-Based Torso-Weighted vest.   Cindy noted that her patients reported improvements in their vision while wearing the vest. We have been working together to explore which patients responded positively and to research this further.  Patients have included those with multiple sclerosis, stroke, ataxia, Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.  Please see Motion Therapeutics for more information.

Peripheral Vision Loss:

Patients who have lost peripheral vision as a result of stroke or head trauma may be able to regain some of this function through visual biofeedback training.  Much research has been done in this area.  Please look at the examples at the link to www.novavision.com.  This company offers the use of a device which the patient works on at their own home.  Dr. Chaikin is one of the qualified providers for this therapy.

Color Therapy, Syntonics

People who have had a brain injury often have disturbed sleep patterns, abnormal attention and wakefulness and overall central nervous system distress. The use of colored filters in glasses or just looking at a particular light frequency can help to calm the CNS. During the visual rehab evaluation you will be trying various colors to see if you find them to be helpful to your vision or to how you feel. If you have a severe sleep disturbance a light therapy machine may be prescribed for you to use for three weeks to 2 to 3 months. Please see  College of Syntonic Optometry for further details.

Microcurrent for Brain Injury

Specific microcurrent protocols have been developed for use with concussion. They can help to reduce swelling, inflammation and help to promote healing. Please see Frequency Specific  for information about this technology. If appropriate you may have the option to come in for weekly sessions or in some cases to rent a microcurrent machine for home use with frequecy management.