ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Severe loss of vision can occur as a result of insults to the visual system. Depending on the level of insult, the patient can experience symptoms ranging from simple loss of visual acuity to more-complex visual motor and perceptual disorders, like visual-field loss and accompanying spatial disorientation, all of which can result in significant restrictions to the patient's mobility. This report describes the therapeutic use of ophthalmic prisms to treat patients with distinct visual impairments. CASE REPORTS: The management of four patients, each with visual impairment of unrelated origins (age-related macular degeneration, brain injury, Friedreich's ataxia, stroke) are discussed, with special emphasis on the positive impact of prismatic prescriptions. With each case, we also discuss our reasoning for prescribing the particular prisms and their possible roles. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical reports reinforce the notion that prisms can be effectively used in visual rehabilitation. The modulatory role of prisms is considered in terms of the neurology of the brain and its functions.
