How to assess visual function in acquired brain injury—Asking is not enough

• Published in: Brain and behavior Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. e01958 - n/a
• Main Authors: Berthold‐Lindstedt, Märta, Johansson, Jan, Ygge, Jan, Borg, Kristian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Age; brain injuries; Disability; Hypoxia; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Motility; ocular motility disorders; Original Research; Patients; Rehabilitation; stroke; Traumatic brain injury; vision disorders; traumatic brain injury; brain injuries; stroke; vision disorders; ocular motility disorders
• ISSN: 2162-3279; 2162-3279
• DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1958

Background Acquired brain injury affects many brain areas and causes a range of dysfunctions including vision‐related issues. These issues can have negative impacts on rehabilitation progress and activities of daily life but may easily be overlooked. There is no common recommendation about how to assess visual impairments after ABI. The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of objectively measures oculomotor dysfunctions, and also how these findings are related to two inventories intended to support detection of visual impairment. Methods The study was cross‐sectional and included 73 outpatients. In addition to the standard evaluation program, the patients went through a comprehensive optometric examination. The inventories used were the Vision Interview (VI) and the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS). Results All three types of examinations showed a high proportion vision‐related symptoms. Fusion vergence was the most common objectively measured finding, 83%. There were seven statistically significant associations between five VI items and five visual deficits. The strength of associations was moderate (Phi 0.261–0.487, p < .05). The sensitivity and specificity of the CISS were moderate. Conclusion We found high percentages of the patients with visual symptoms and dysfunctions. Due to the complexity of visual symptoms and functional deficits in ABI, we find it necessary to combine both symptom assessment and vision examination in order to capture visual function issues. The study explores visual dysfunctions after acquired brain injury in a neurorehabilitation setting and studies the association with visual symptoms. We conclude that both symptom assessment and objective measurements are required to capture these issues.