When a person is in an accident and is injured the injuries causing the most pain or are the most critical are the ones that are treated immediately. Lacerations are stitched, a broken leg is set and suspected back and neck injuries are immediately set. The other injuries that are not so obvious are often overlooked. Because these injuries are often neglected the rehabilitation could take longer and in some instances be impaired.
Vision problems are one of the often-overlooked problems during the initial treatment of a traumatic brain injury. Many times because accident victims may not be aware that there is an issue with their vision. Vision problems are easily passed off as a lack of sleep, stress or even allergies.
A person’s sense of vision is a very important source of sensory information. The vision process involves the flow and processing of information to the brain. Since there is such a close relationship between the vision process and the brain and trauma to the brain can affect the processing and flow of information to the brain. There are many symptoms to look out for that would indicate vision problems after a brain injury. Some are;
– Blurred vision
– Sensitivity to light, glare sensitivity
– Reading difficulties; words appear to move
– Comprehension difficulty
– Attention and concentration difficulty
– Memory difficulty
– Double vision
– Aching eyes
– Headaches with visual tasks
– Inability to maintain visual contact
– Reduction or loss of visual field
Many people confuse having good vision and having effective visual skills. They are not the same. Having visual skills that are inefficient can cause strain and add difficulty to various tasks. I have listed below are some of the visual skills that can be traumatized by a brain injury and a short explanation of that particular skill;
– Tracking: the ability of the eye to move smoothly across a printed page or while following a moving object.
– Fixation: quickly and accurately locating and inspecting a series of stationary objects, such as words while reading.
– Focus Change: looking quickly from far to near and back without blur.
– Depth perception: judging relative distances of objects
– how far or near they are.
– Peripheral vision: monitoring and interpreting what is happening in the surrounding field of vision
– Binocularity: using both eyes together as a team
– smoothly, equally and accurately.
– Maintaining attention: keeping focused on a particular activity while interference, such as noise, is present.
– Visualization: accurately picturing images in the “mind’s eye,” eye retaining and storing them for future recall.
– Near vision acuity: clearly, seeing, inspecting, identifying and understanding objects viewed within arm’s length.
– Distance acuity: clearly seeing, inspecting, identifying and understanding objects viewed at a distance.
– Vision perception: understanding what is seen.
The issues can be treated and rehabilitated by a vision care professional. There are numerous ways these issues can be treated. By the use of correctional lenses and vision therapy, the flow of information between the eyes and brain can be improved.
If you or someone you know or love has been in an accident it is important to be aware of all of the possible issues. We have all heard the line “It is better to be safe than sorry”, this is exceptionally true when addressing vision issues accompanying brain injuries.
Michael A. Schafer is an attorney who concentrates his law practice in personal injury litigation in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of 7 Potholes That Can Wreck Your Kentucky Accident Case” and “What You Don’t Know About Buying Car Insurance Can Hurt You”.