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Visual electrodiagnostic findings in mild traumatic brain injury
1Colorado Eye Center/Ophthalmology, Physiology Laboratory, Denver, USA.
Brain Injury
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Optometric rehabilitation significantly improved visual system recovery in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Pattern visually evoked cortical potential (VECP) testing showed fewer abnormalities after treatment, indicating effective visual pathway recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to diverse visual system dysfunctions.
- These deficits can include issues with binocular vision, oculomotor control, accommodation, refractive error, visual field, and visual perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of optometric rehabilitation in improving visual system deficits in mild TBI patients.
- To compare visual recovery in TBI patients receiving optometric rehabilitation versus those who did not.
Main Methods:
- A 5-year collaborative study involving optometry and ophthalmology.
- Compared 18 mild TBI patients receiving optometric rehabilitation (Group I) with 32 mild TBI patients not receiving treatment (Group II).
- Utilized pattern visually evoked cortical potential (VECP) and electroretinography (ERG) at baseline and 12-18 months post-injury.
Main Results:
- Full-field ERG results were unremarkable and not sensitive for mild TBI.
- Initially, 72% of Group I and 81% of Group II showed VECP waveform abnormalities.
- After 12-18 months, 38% of Group I (rehabilitation) and 78% of Group II showed VECP abnormalities, indicating significant recovery in Group I.
Conclusions:
- Pattern VECP is a reliable tool for objectively assessing visual system deficits and recovery in mild TBI.
- Optometric rehabilitation demonstrated significant positive effects on visual system recovery in TBI patients.