Stroke recovery is a complex journey that often requires a multi-disciplinary approach. One aspect that is sometimes overlooked but can be highly effective is Vision Therapy. Vision Therapy is particularly helpful for stroke patients because strokes frequently affect the brain’s visual processing, which can lead to several vision-related issues. As Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a Neuro-Optometrist in Versailles, Kentucky, explains, about 70% of the brain is involved in vision. Therefore, stroke patients are particularly vulnerable to vision disruptions, which can greatly affect their quality of life.
How Strokes Affect Vision
Strokes can cause a wide variety of vision problems depending on the area of the brain that is impacted. Many patients may not immediately connect their symptoms to a stroke, especially if they have not had a major episode. Some common vision issues post-stroke include:
- Eye-tracking problems: This can affect reading and focusing on objects, making everyday tasks difficult.
- Reduced visual-spatial judgment: Stroke patients may struggle with balance, coordination, and depth perception, which can make driving and moving around feel unsafe.
- Visual field defects: Some stroke patients lose portions of their visual field, meaning they cannot see everything in front of them. This can lead to frequent tripping, bumping into objects, or missing information in their surroundings.
Even patients who pass routine vision exams may still experience these symptoms. In fact, many patients are relieved to learn that their post-stroke challenges can be treated.
Vision Therapy as a Solution
Vision Therapy, as practiced by Dr. Rick Graebe, provides a customized, non-invasive approach to rehabilitate visual skills. Stroke patients benefit from specialized techniques, including the use of yoked prisms and lenses, which help improve peripheral vision and restore balance in visual-spatial judgments.
Dr. Graebe explains, “The brain is amazing. Give it half an opportunity to learn, and it’ll figure it out.” This is the foundation of Vision Therapy, which is designed to help the brain create new pathways and connections, a concept known as neuroplasticity.
Why Vision Therapy Works
The key reason Vision Therapy is successful is that it doesn’t just focus on the eyes but also integrates the body and the brain. By improving how the brain processes visual information, patients experience better balance, spatial awareness, and overall visual function. With the advances in brain research, we now understand that the brain can form new nerve cells, even at older ages—a process known as neurogenesis. This means that even patients in their 70s and beyond can experience significant improvements.
In one case, a patient from Danville, Kentucky, came to Dr. Graebe’s office after noticing problems with depth perception and balance, which affected their driving. They had received a clean bill of health from their regular doctor but still felt something was off. After starting Vision Therapy, they noticed significant improvement in their visual-spatial judgment, making driving and daily activities much safer and more comfortable.
Schedule Your Vision Therapy Consultation Today
If you or a loved one is experiencing vision problems following a stroke, consider scheduling a consultation with Dr. Rick Graebe at Neuro-Visual Performance Institute. With locations in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, they are one of the few practices in Central and Southern Kentucky offering this specialized care. To schedule an appointment, call us at 859-879-0089 today.
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.