Efficacy of Neuro-Optometric visual rehabilitation in Homonymous Hemianopia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess oculomotor dysfunction and the effectiveness of neuro-optometric visual rehabilitation in improving oculomotor parameters in participants with homonymous hemianopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty subjects diagnosed with homonymous hemianopia (HH), referred through the neuro-ophthalmology department, were recruited for the study. All the subjects underwent a detailed neuro-optometric evaluation that included testing for sensory, visuo-motor and oculomotor functions. Subjects with homonymous hemianopia were then prescribed with yoked prisms and were randomized to two treatments at one month, namely group 1: yoked prisms (n = 15) and group 2: yoked prisms with in-office visual search training (n = 15). RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of the subjects was 46 ± 12 years. Subjects with HH exhibited a significant delay in the completion time, response and accuracy of tasks on proactive, saccadic and visual search parameters using the SVI compared to age-matched controls (Independent t-test, p < 0.05). A significant improvement in the reading speed and visual search parameters (RM ANOVA, p < 0.001) was seen post neuro-optometric visual rehabilitation with both yoked prisms and SVI. Statistically significant differences were observed in the reaction time of the visual search paradigms between the two rehabilitative modalities yoked (group1), yoked and SVI (group2) (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001), with the group 2 showing better visual search performance outcomes compared to group 1 (yoked). CONCLUSION: Visual search parameters among participants with homonymous hemianopia improved following combined rehabilitation (yoked prisms and visual search trainng).

Reading Difficulty Due to Oculomotor Dysfunction following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report.

Reading involves adequate coordination of the oculomotor system. As interlink consists of neuronal control, an insult to the brain might affect the signal processing and lead to oculomotor dysfunction that can affect reading performance. Appropriate training to enhance the oculomotor coordination is effective in such scenarios. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the role of neuro-optometric vision therapy as a management option in oculomotor-based reading difficulty.

Ocular features of patients with Parkinson's disease examined at a Neuro-Optometry Clinic in a tertiary eye care center.

PURPOSE: To report the ocular features of patients with PD who presented with visual complaints to a tertiary eye care center. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out between January 2015 and March 2020 at the Neuro-Optometry clinic of a tertiary eye care center in Southern India. All PD patients with ocular complaints examined by the neuro- ophthalmologists were referred to Neuro-Optometry Clinic for detailed evaluation. Patients with other neurodegenerative disorders, brain injury, and other causes of vision loss or extraocular motility disorders were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (7 females, 36 males) between 50 and 86 years of age (mean: 70 ± 8.9 years) with a mean duration of PD of 4.5 ± 4.5 years were studied. Decreased vision associated with reading difficulty (40%) was common in PD patients. In terms of gaze restriction, vertical gaze involvement (35%) was more than horizontal involvement (7%). Convergence insufficiency (CI) was the most common binocular vision dysfunction (30%), followed by CI with oculomotor dysfunction (14%) and vertical gaze palsy (18%). Ground prisms were recommended for 26 patients (61%) and home vision therapy for 5 patients (12%) as corrective measures. CONCLUSION: Binocular vision dysfunction is highly prevalent among PD patients. This could potentially contribute to the reading difficulties and double vision encountered by these patients. Assessment of binocular vision and oculomotor parameters thus becomes important to understand and manage the reading difficulties in patients with PD.

Frequency of undetected binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees / Frecuencia de anomalías de visión binocular no detectadas entre los estudiantes de Oftalmología

PURPOSE: The use of ophthalmic instruments requires increased effort on the accommodation and vergence system. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees attending a surgical training program at a tertiary eye care center. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was carried out between April and November 2017 at a tertiary eye care center in South India. All the ophthalmology trainees inducted for the training programs at the institution underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic and binocular vision assessment. Subjects with previous diagnosis of binocular vision dysfunction and vision therapy were excluded. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the subjects was 29 (3) among which 48 were females. Out of the total 75 subjects, 66 had prior surgical experience [range: 1 to 17 years]. Thirty-eight subjects were asymptomatic and 37 were symptomatic. The most common asthenopic symptom was the presence of headache. Forty-one (55%) out of the 75 had a diagnosis of a non-strabismic binocular vision dysfunction. The range of phoria at distance was orthophoria to 14 Prism Diopter (PD) exophoria (mean +/− SD: −1 +/− 3), and at near 4PD esophoria to 25PD exophoria (mean +/− SD: −4 +/− 5). Based on standard diagnostic criteria, 15 subjects (20%) had convergence insufficiency, 14 (19%) had accommodative infacility, 9 (12%) had intermittent divergent squint (IDS), while 3 subjects (4%) had convergence excess. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the high frequency of binocular vision dysfunctions among ophthalmology trainees joining a tertiary eye care center

OBJETIVO: El uso de instrumentos oftálmicos requiere un esfuerzo incrementado de los sistemas de acomodación y vergencia. El objetivo de este estudio fue comprender la prevalencia de anomalías de visión binocular entre los alumnos de oftalmología que asistían a un programa de formación quirúrgica en un centro terciario de cuidados oculares. MÉTODOS: Este estudio de cohorte prospectivo fue realizado entre abril y noviembre de 2017 en un centro terciario de cuidados oculares en el sur de India. Todos los estudiantes de oftalmología inscritos en los programas de formación en el centro fueron sometidos a un amplio examen oftálmico y binocular. Se excluyó a los sujetos con diagnóstico previo de disfunción de visión binocular y terapia ocular. RESULTADOS: La edad media (DE) de los sujetos fue de 29 años (3), de los cuales 48 eran mujeres. Del total de 75 sujetos, 66 tenían experiencia quirúrgica previa [rango: de 1 a 17 años]. Treinta y ocho sujetos eran asintomáticos y 37 sintomáticos. El síntoma de astenopía más común fue la presencia de cefalea. Cuarenta y uno (55%) de los 75 sujetos fueron diagnosticados de disfunción visual binocular no estrábica. El rango de foria de lejos fue de ortoforia a 14 dioptrías prismáticas (DP) a exoforia (media +/− DE: −1 +/− 3) y, de cerca, de esoforia a 4DP a esoforia a 25DP (media +/− DE: −4 +/− 5). Basándonos en criterios diagnósticos estándar, 15 sujetos (20%) tenían insuficiencia de convergencia, 14 (19%) falta de facilidad acomodativa, 9 (12%) tenían estrabismo divergente intermitente (EDI), y 3 sujetos (4%) tenían exceso de convergencia. CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio muestra la alta frecuencia de disfunciones de visión binocular entre los estudiantes de oftalmología que acudierona un centro terciario de cuidados oculares

Visual profile of acquired brain injury in Indian cohort: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: With the increasing global prevalence of acquired brain injury (ABI), the burden of visual problems as a sequelae to ABI is on the rise. This study reports the visual profile of patients with ABI seen in Neuro-Optometry Clinic (NOC) at a tertiary eye-care center in Southern India. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out between January 2014 and December 2015. Medical records of patients diagnosed with ABI referred by Neuro-Ophthalmologists to the NOC were reviewed. The detailed history, clinical findings of neuro assessment and management details were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 241 patients with ABI, 208 had Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and 33 had Cerebro-Vascular Accident (CVA). The mean (SD) age of patients with TBI was 35 ± 14 years and CVA was 52 ± 16 years. Binocular diplopia (61%) was seen predominantly in TBI due to vertical deviation (31%). Cranial nerve palsy was most common in TBI (55%) than CVA (36%) and visual field defects were most frequently seen in CVA (27%). CONCLUSION: Cranial nerve paresis and restrictive strabismus with diplopia were the most common presentations in TBI and visual field defects in CVA. A neuro-optometric evaluation is recommended to identify visual dysfunctions and provide appropriate management options. ABBREVIATIONS: ABI: Acquired Brain Injury; TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury; CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident; NOC: Neuro-Optometry Clinic; NSBVA: Non-Strabismic binocular vision anomalies; OMD: Oculomotor dysfunction; VFD: Visual field defect; GON: Glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Frequency of undetected binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees.

PURPOSE: The use of ophthalmic instruments requires increased effort on the accommodation and vergence system. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of binocular vision anomalies among ophthalmology trainees attending a surgical training program at a tertiary eye care center. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was carried out between April and November 2017 at a tertiary eye care center in South India. All the ophthalmology trainees inducted for the training programs at the institution underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic and binocular vision assessment. Subjects with previous diagnosis of binocular vision dysfunction and vision therapy were excluded. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the subjects was 29 (3) among which 48 were females. Out of the total 75 subjects, 66 had prior surgical experience [range: 1 to 17 years]. Thirty-eight subjects were asymptomatic and 37 were symptomatic. The most common asthenopic symptom was the presence of headache. Forty-one (55%) out of the 75 had a diagnosis of a non-strabismic binocular vision dysfunction. The range of phoria at distance was orthophoria to 14 Prism Diopter (PD) exophoria (mean +/- SD: -1 +/- 3), and at near 4PD esophoria to 25PD exophoria (mean +/- SD: -4 +/- 5). Based on standard diagnostic criteria, 15 subjects (20%) had convergence insufficiency, 14 (19%) had accommodative infacility, 9 (12%) had intermittent divergent squint (IDS), while 3 subjects (4%) had convergence excess. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the high frequency of binocular vision dysfunctions among ophthalmology trainees joining a tertiary eye care center.