Bad eyesight

[Guest greyhe]

Hey all;

 

As many of you know, one of Kathy's side effects of her stroke is that she has been left with 66% visibility out of her right eye.

 

I've been trying to get her to do some more activities to stimulate her; reading, drawing, using the computer, etc. She keeps using her poor eyesight as an excuse as to why she can't do these things. She's at the point where she'll close her right eye if she wants to focus on something better.

 

I've been doing some eye excersizes with her, and so far it seems that her eyesight doesn't want to improve anytime soon. Is there tricks that some of you who have been dealing with poor eyesight use? I want Kathy to get back to doing the things she used to do, but can't think of anything else to tell or do for her. Her OT gave me the eye excersises, so that revenue is tapped at the moment.

 

Thanks;

Michael

[Guest kbrasher]

MICHAEL,

 

i had ( have) a similar problem with my left eye ( thankyou stroke) when i first "came to" after 3 weeks of unconsciousness, my eye was SO bad that it "wandered" to the left. i felt like i looked like a MONSTOR on top of the vision loss. i got the eye exersizes too. btw, they can really work. in a few months my eye stopped "wandering' and my vision improved , somewhat. my neuro says give it up to 2 years for improvement. i have to wear glasses to read now. but it did get better.

 

i hope kathy's gets better too, keep up the exersizes!!!!!

 

my best

kim

[Kj mcmeekin]

Michael:

 

Chris has lost the sight in his left eye since his strokes. He claims he can only see dark shadows.

 

I want to bring this to the attention of the neurologist now that he is in the hospital. I also have noticed that Chris will say he can't do something because he can't see correctly.

 

I'll let you know what information I get...................

 

Kim

[Hickoryman]

Hi Micheal,

Can you be a little more specific on what the "eye exercises" constitute? My wife has "eye problems" associated with her right eye but it's the "connection" to the brain that's the problem not the "optics"! She's 8 months "down stream" & has improved the "recognition" properties dramatically but she's not there yet!

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ben

[isokrzy]

Hello,

#1 throw away the crap your OT gave you they havn't the faintest idea what their doing and have no schooling on the subject and have no right dealing out such information.

#2 yes I think OT's are a joke not sure if the field is just attractive to inept people or the whole OT principle is a poorly applied practice

#3 get to a neuro optamologist, get their findings I they feel the damaged area is remotly recoverable they'll tell you.

#4 see a low vision specialist or optamologist that specializes in brain injury, you'll be surprised how many you will find You then will probably get into vision therapy which i know it personaly helped me return to driving by increasing my peripheral vision an normal acuity. Contact me if you like and I can give you direction.Meanwhile check out www. claudia osborn.com go to links you'll find good resources.

Good luck,

isokrzy

[Terryh708]

Michael and Kathy,

 

First get a full evaluation by an Ophtomalagist (sp). Ask them to also do a visoin field assessment.

 

Denise was told that she had lost 60 % of her total vision also but after thie above test it was only 60% of her field of vision.

 

To exercise the bad eye cover the good eye with a temporary patch (Like a pirate ). this is what i went thru as a child when i had one eye weaker than the other. it really helped tremendously.

 

Keep us posted

God Bless

 

Terry

 

[Guest kmk]

Michael,

 

I have no vision for all intents and purposes in my right eye. The cause for my vision loss was not stroke, but the effects were the same. I had only very limited peripheral vision (lights and darks) in my right eye.

 

The brain will eventually learn to compensate, but it does take time. It took about 2 years for me to learn how to integrate my vision. I don't even use my right eye anymore. Consequently, I have no depth perception, but as I see it, things could be worse! I could be blind, but I'm not. When I am tired, I can still see double, but most times I don't notice my lack of sight at all anymore.

 

Kathy

[arogers]

After Bill's first stroke we were advised that he see a "Neurologic Ophthalmologist" because he had suffered a vision field cut. What actually happens in this case is the one side (in his case the right) of each eye's vision is reduced. Even though it may seem like it is one eye - it does for him anyway, that is not actually the case. It involves both eyes. After his examination it was determined that he had suffered a 50% cut in his peripheral vision to the right side. After his 2nd stroke he was tested again, this time it was determined he has only between 15-20% peripheral vision now. I can't get him to use the computer, either. I've now applied to the Library for the Blind for books on tape for him. He is trying to read road signs, etc. and he says the letters "jump around". There is some low-vision rehabilitation therapy available in these cases. Hope I've helped somewhat, I don't know alot about it, but I'd be glad to help where I can. We've been told that with the heminopsia (?) there isn't alot of hope full vision will return, but with other problems associated with stroke there is a probability of improvement. The vision-cut requires adaptation to compensate for the loss. Good luck to us all with this one!!!

[Guest greyhe]

I'm just updating this post.

 

It turns out that Kathy hasn't really lost any vision in her right eye after all. I have to make an appointment with the optomotrist (sp?) this week to get her prescription changed on her glasses.

 

Yesterday she started freaking because she could now see out her right eye with no problems, but her left was impaired. This got me concerned as well until I realized what was happening. She had grabbed my glasses, which are a higher prescription.

 

Michael

 

[arogers]

Michael,

 

I would still strongly recommend you strongly consider the post by "isokrzy"....

The key? "Neuro Ophthalmologist".....NOT Optometrist........There is a world of difference, and there is even a difference in Ophthalmologist and NEURO.....the neuro is especially trained to treat vision problems associated with brain dysfunctions......Also, low vision rehab is different than OT, although Bill's OT claims to be qualified to assist with vision rehab, I really do question it! From what I've observed, the OT just wants him to "read the label" - or "read this line", and they don't even realize what is going on.....

 

Anyway, this is a "for what it's worth" post....When I reread the thead I found the one from isokrzy to be very good and accurate as it relates to us..

 

Good luck to you and Kathy on this one!!

[merichsen]

there is also an on line vision therapy program called topvision which i found helpful in regaining peripheral vision. my neurooptomologist agreed it was a good program.

http://www.visualtraining.com/english/profprod.htm

good luck

maria

[Guest cindy1947]

My husband was left with vision problems after his stroke. He has double vision and blurred as well. He had an eye exam in the acute rehab he was in and they said to wait a while and have another exam. He is now in a sub acute rehab and had an exam last week. The eye Dr. found a perscription that worked wonders for him. He will be getting his new glasses next week and he can see perfectly with them. They are prisim lenses and the double vision and blurr are completly gone.

[Phyllis4732]

Happened to my friend who had a car accident and got double vision. At first she had to wear a patch on her glasses which she wore anyway. The, she got prism glasses.

 

I almost didn't get my drives license renewed because I can't see very well on 1 eye. I wanted to go to a neuro-opthamologist but none was here so went to a regular opthamologist. Got prism glasses and got my license but must wear the glasses and have side mirrors which car had anyway. Honestly, they only make the car in front larger and nearer - like looking in on the side do. I don't really like that, but have to drive and this is the way. Maybe the car is that close. Did get Crisol finish which takes away glare. I think it works- hope so, was expensive and you can not leave glasses in a hot car. It's good though because at night the lights from vans and HUV's blind me because they hit wrong and this helps. Also drivin wst when sun is going down.