Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome

Original Editor - Yagdutt Top Contributors - Yagdutt Yagdutt, Kim Jackson, Carina Therese Magtibay and Nupur Smit Shah

Top Contributors - Yagdutt Yagdutt, Kim Jackson, Carina Therese Magtibay and Nupur Smit Shah  

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Post traumatic vision Syndrome occur after a traumatic brain injury(TBI) or Cerebrovascular insult or a neurovascular incident( Cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, concussion whiplash). Inherent Visual processing mechanisms are affected causing altered ability to comprehend and process visual and sensory feedback causing dysfunction in vision. Following a neurological insult various symptoms related to vision like headaches, diplopia, vertigo, asthenopia, photophobia, inability to focus and track on objects[1] [2][3]

Clinical Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

Binocular vision and accommodative disturbances in vision are common after mild Traumatic brain injuries. Oculomotor deficits in accommodative and binocular vision dysfunctions may occur from damage to the cranial nerves( Oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerve). Exotropia and Exophoria are common after a neurological event. There are also difficulty in convergence and difficulty in accommodation and increased myopia (Blurred near vision). Patient also suffer from oculomotor dysfunction leading to vision problems. Patient report to have symptoms like double vision(Diplopia)Dizziness, Nausea, eye Strain(asthenopia), Sensitivity to light(Photophobia) and perceived movement of print or stationary Objects[2].

In addition to visual motor function there could be balance and posture can be affected as there can be midline shift. In Case of Homonymous hemianopsia(Loss of Vision on one side) there is a midline shift affecting Balance and posture leading to instability and frequent falls. Due to mismatchbetweenn Visual processes and sensorimotor information there is spatial disruption affecting binocular vision and patient reporting vertigo, dizziness, and balance problems[2].

Symptoms generally are better in morning. Symptoms get worse with activity and in busy high visual sensory environment. Sleep disturbances are also noticed in Post traumatic vision syndrome [1] [2] [3] [4].

Special tests[edit | edit source]

  • Cranial nerve testing – motor weakness in Cranial nerve 3, 4, or 6 may be contributing to diplopia, or vertical imbalances[5].Most commonly patients with post traumaic vision syndrome experience difficulties with eye tracking, eye teaming/convergence, and eye focusing problems, which may be noticed using the following tests:
  • Nuclear eye movements (Ductions)- Ductions compromise of each eye seprately with one eye covered. limited eye movement or Ductions informs us about neurological involvement of eye. there are six movements of eye.[6]Abduction refers to the outward movement of an eye. Adduction refers to the inward movement of an eye. Supraduction / sursumduction / elevation. Infraduction / deosumduction / depression. Incycloduction /intorsion. Excycloduction / extorsion.
  • Supranuclear eye movements –Supranuclear eye movement involves versions, pursuits, saccades, convergence and vestibulo-occular reflex. Supranuclear eye movements inform us about upper or lower motor neuron lesion caused by trauma.
  • Visual field testing – can give information on any type of vision loss if any the patient is experiencing. If visual field is affected it can indicate towards condition affecting visual pathways from optical nerve to occipital lobe, tumours, Injury, Poor circulation in brain. [7]
  • Visual Acuity at 10 feet – using letters and shapes can help indicate possible neglect or field of vision loss thus indicating neurological condition. visual acuity test generally utilizes reading from a standardized chart (Snellen chart) or a card held 20 feet (6 meters) away thus indicating vision changes.[8]
  • Visual inattention/ neglect testing – often present with Post traumatic vision syndrome with traumatic brain injury. Patient demonstrate neglect of one side of body. [9]
  • Aneisokonia testing – may show discrepancies in object size between eyes when you are looking at same object in same direction. [10]
  • Hirschberg test & Cover Test: test for ocular alignment where we try to use a light source in midline from 2 feet to reflect on patient eyes while instructing them to focus on light source. Reflection of light should appear as a pin point while light near the center of pupil in each eye.[11]

Management[edit | edit source]

  • Management strategies involve remidiation of dysfunctions that were discovered during the assessment.Early treatment in post traumatic vision syndrome is advised to avoid compensatory changes.
  • If any oculomotor control dysfunctions are present, using specific oculomotor training through vision exercises and computer-based programs[12].
  • If vision changes are noticed referral to an optometrist is advised. Investigation to find out if prism lenses are indicated should be done to start rehabilitation early.Optical devices like lenses and prisms can be used to help improve spatial orientation, posture and balance, and address issues regarding convergence, focus and binocular dysfunction.Doing vision exercises with optical devices help in effective management of the symptoms.[2] [13] [14](2,7,8). Different diagnostic methods like testing of saccades, convergence and Vestibulo-ocuar reflex can also be used for training vision.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 balance and Dizziness canada. LET ’ S TALK ABOUT . . . Balance and Dizziness : The Visual Connection [Internet]. 2008 [cited 2021 Nov 19]. p. 1–4. Available from: https://balanceanddizziness.org/pdf/balance-dizziness-visual-connection.pdf
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Padula W V., Capo-Aponte JE, Padula W V., Singman EL, Jenness J. The consequence of spatial visual processing dysfunction caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain Inj [Internet]. 2017;31(5):589–600. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2017.1291991
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Merezhinskaya N, Mallia RK, Park DH, Bryden DW, Mathur K, Barker FM. Visual Deficits and Dysfunctions Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Optom Vis Sci. 2019;96(8):542–55.
  4. ↑ Chen PY, Tsai PS, Chen NH, Chaung LP, Lee CC, Chen CC, et al. Trajectories of Sleep and Its Predictors in the First Year Following Traumatic Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2015;30(4):E50–5.
  5. ↑ Oliaro S, Anderson S, Hooker D. Management of Cerebral Concussion in Sports: The Athletic Trainer’s Perspective. J Athl Train. 2001;36(3):257–62.
  6. ↑ E book. CNO-Group eTextbook of Eye Movements. Accessed from Internet on 21 Nov 2021 https://www.neuroophthalmology.ca/textbook/the-clinical-examination/ii-eye-movements
  7. ↑ Accessed from internet on 21 Nov 2021 https://www.medicinenet.com/visual_field_test/article.htm
  8. ↑ Accessed on 21 Nov 2021 from internet https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003396.htm
  9. ↑ Accessed from Physiopedia on 21 Nov 2021. Unilateral Neglect
  10. ↑ Accessed from internet On 21 Nov 2021 from https://www.opticaldiagnostics.com/info/aniseikonia.html
  11. ↑ Accessed from internet on 21 Nov 2021 from https://morancore.utah.edu/basic-ophthalmology-review/alignment-assessment-hirschberg/
  12. ↑ Simpson-Jones ME, Hunt AW. Vision rehabilitation interventions following mild traumatic brain injury: a scoping review. Disabil Rehabil [Internet]. 2019;41(18):2206–22. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1460407
  13. ↑ Polinder S, Cnossen MC, Real RGL, Covic A, Gorbunova A, Voormolen DC, et al. A Multidimensional Approach to Post-concussion Symptoms in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Neurol. 2018;9(December):1–14.
  14. ↑ Hudac C, Kota, Nedrow, Molfese D. Neural mechanisms underlying neurooptometric rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury. Eye Brain. 2012;1.
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