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Vision therapy found useful for concussion-related visual disorders
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The high prevalence of concussion-related vision disorders supports the need for appropriate clinical testing of vergence, accommodation and eye movements, according to researchers in Optometry and Vision Science.
The researchers used records of 218 patients who were referred after a concussion during an 18-month period from two private practices.
Mean patient age was 20.5 years, and 58% were female, with 56% sports-related accidents, 20% motor vehicle accidents, 17% home accident and 7% school or workplace accident. This was the first documented concussion for 70% of patients.
Binocular vision disorder was diagnosed in 62%, accommodative disorder was found in 54% and saccadic function in 21.6% of patients.
Vision therapy was recommended for 175 of the 218 patients, or 80%. Of these, 80 either chose not to begin therapy or did not complete it.
In patients treated for convergence insufficiency (CI), 85% had a successful outcome, and 15% improved. Among those with accommodative insufficiency (AI), 33% were successful, and 67% improved, and for patients with saccadic dysfunction, 83% were successful and 5% improved, according to researchers.
Researchers found statistically significant changes in near point of convergence, positive fusional vergence and Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms Survey (CISS) for patients with CI, and in accommodative amplitude and CISS in patients with AI.
Researchers also noted that 78% of patients reported having previous or concurrent vestibular therapy, reflecting the high prevalence of vestibular disorders after concussion. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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