Treatment of vestibular disorders with weak asymmetric base-in prisms: An hypothesis with a focus on Ménière's disease
Regular treatments of Ménière's disease (MD) vary largely, and no single satisfactory treatment exists. A complementary treatment popular among Dutch and Belgian patients involves eyeglasses with weak asymmetric base-in prisms, with a perceived high success rate. An explanatory mechanism is, ho...
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Published in | Journal of vestibular research Vol. 27; no. 5-6; pp. 251 - 263 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Netherlands
IOS Press
2018
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Regular treatments of Ménière's disease (MD) vary largely, and no single satisfactory treatment exists. A complementary treatment popular among Dutch and Belgian patients involves eyeglasses with weak asymmetric base-in prisms, with a perceived high success rate. An explanatory mechanism is, however, lacking.
To speculate on a working mechanism explaining an effectiveness of weak asymmetric base-in prims in MD, based on available knowledge.
After describing the way these prisms are prescribed using a walking test and its effect reported on, we give an explanation of its underlying mechanism, based on the literature.
The presumed effect can be explained by considering the typical star-like walking pattern in MD, induced by a drifting after-image comparable to the oculogyral illusion. Weak asymmetric base-in prisms can furthermore eliminate the conflict between a net vestibular angular velocity bias in the efferent signal controlling the VOR, and a net re-afferent ocular signal.
The positive findings with these glasses reported on, the fact that the treatment itself is simple, low-cost, and socially acceptable, and the fact that an explanation is at hand, speak in favour of elaborating further on this treatment. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0957-4271 1878-6464 |
DOI: | 10.3233/VES-170630 |