Visual field defects after stroke – a practical guide for GPs

Background
Visual field defect after stroke can result in significant disability and reduction in quality of life. Visual rehabilitation aims to maximise the residual vision and decrease functional disability. Understanding the rehabilitation options available, and where to refer patients with visual defects after a stroke, can help patients, and their families, in the rehabilitation process.
Objective
This article provides a review of the functional disability from visual field loss and discusses the various forms of visual rehabilitation.
Discussion
Optical therapy, eye movement therapy and visual field restitution are the rehabilitation therapies currently available. Rehabilitation needs to cater to each patient’s specific needs. Any patient recognized as having a visual field defect after stroke needs prompt referral for further assessment and consideration for visual rehabilitation.

Comments: This FREE PDF is reprinted from Australian Family Physicia n Vol. 39, No. 7, JULY 2010, but is also appropriate as a review of visual fields associated with stroke for the primary care optometrist. Besides discussing visual fields they also briefly talk about saccadic therapy and the use of glasses/prisms and the use of computer Visual restorative therapy. No where do they note that optometrists should be involved in the care of the patient. Considering the growing body of evidence that optometric vision therapy can make a significant change in the life of these individuals (acquired/traumatic brain injury. DM