NEURO-OPTOMETRIC REHABILITATION
Neuro-optometric practice is an area of advanced competence in the assessment and management of patients that have sustained an acquired brain injury. An acquired brain injury (ABI) results in changes to the brain’s neuronal activity, which affect the physical integrity, metabolic activity, or functional ability of nerve cells in the brain. An ABI is the umbrella term for all brain injuries, and is usually sub-classified into either traumatic (TBI) or non-traumatic etiology (nTBI). Examples of traumatic injuries include: falls, assaults, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries and concussion. Examples of non-traumatic injuries include: cerebrovascular accident such as stroke or aneurysm, tumor, infectious diseases such a meningitis, lack of oxygen to the brain such as heart attack, anaphylaxis or near-drowning.
Since diagnostic studies can be normal, especially in functional Neuro-Ophthalmic disorders, a detailed medical history and careful physical examination is essential. Neuro-Optometrists often spend a significant amount of time with their patients.
What is the difference between Neuro-Ophthalmology and Neuro-Optometry?
Neuro-Ophthalmology focuses on medical pathology, including systemic or local disease that impacts the nervous system and affects eyesight. A Neuro-Ophthalmologist will diagnose, treat and manage the complex outcome of structural change that has resulted from an ABI; using medications, surgery and consultation with other medical professionals as the condition dictates is appropriate. Neuro-ophthalmologists often see patients with complex multi-system disease.
Neuro-Optometry focuses upon the functional outcome the patient's vision process has sustained, as a consequence of ABI. While a Neuro-Optometric practitioner is trained to diagnose eyesight and vision problems associated with ABI; where a patient might benefit from medical management, in-depth assessment such as imaging, surgical or pharmaceutical treatment, referral to Neuro-Ophthalmology would be recommended.
Neuro-Optometrists assess patients with a view to providing treatment and management solutions for their presenting symptoms, that impact their activities of daily living, following ABI. This may involve the use of spectacles, prisms, filters, tints or Neuro-Optometric rehabilitation.
Neuro-Optometric rehabilitation is an individualized treatment regimen for patients with visual deficits as a direct result of physical disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and other neurological insults. Neuro-Optometric rehabilitative therapy is a process for the rehabilitation of visual, perceptual, and motor disorders. It includes, but is not limited to: acquired strabismus, diplopia, binocular dysfunction, convergence and/or accommodation paresis/paralysis, oculomotor dysfunction, balance and dizziness disorders, motion sensitivity, light sensitivity, visual-spatial dysfunction, visual perceptual and cognitive deficits, and traumatic visual acuity loss.
Patients of all ages who have experienced neurological insults may benefit from Neuro-Optometric rehabilitation. Visual problems caused by traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accident, cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, etc., may interfere with performance contributing to difficulties experienced in learning and attention deficits. These visual dysfunctions can also contribute and heighten psychological sequelae in ABI, such as anxiety and panic disorders, as well as spatial dysfunctions affecting balance and posture.
A Neuro-Optometric rehabilitation treatment plan is designed to improve specific acquired vision dysfunctions determined by standardized diagnostic criteria. Treatment regimens encompass medically necessary non-compensatory lenses and prisms with and without occlusion, and other appropriate medical rehabilitation strategies.
Types of Problems Frequently Treated:
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Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
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Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
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Cerebral Palsy (CP)
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Autism
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Parkinson’s Disease
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Other Neurological Conditions
