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The American Heart Association reports that strokes are the leading cause of disability in the United States. When a stroke occurs, the blood supply to the brain is cut off for a period of time. This is sometimes referred to as a brain attack. A brain attack can be fatal, and many individuals who survive a stroke are left with multiple impairments. Vision loss, or changes in vision can be a resulting impairment of a stroke. Sometimes strokes can occur at the site of the optic nerve. This is known as ischemic optic neuropathy. When this occurs, a patient may hear that he or she has had a broken or blocked blood vessel at the back of the eye. The amount of resulting visual impairment depends upon how much of the optic nerve has been affected. Treatment results vary for this condition, and much research is being done to learn more about the causes and effects of this type of stroke. A stroke, or brain attack, that occurs in other areas of the brain may affect many parts of the body. However, many stroke survivors who experience difficulties with vision are told that there is nothing wrong with their eyes. If a stroke damages the part of the brain which processes visual information, a person will not be able to "see" correctly, even if the eye itself has not been damaged. For vision to take place, that part of the eye must work in conjunction with the brain. Some common visual affects from stroke include distortions in spatial relationships, a general dimness of vision, or hemianopsia, which is the loss of one half of the visual field. Sometimes it may be difficult to distinguish an individual's difficulty with vision from other effects of a stroke. For instance, an individual who experiences a great deal of paralysis or numbness on one side of the body may begin to ignore or forget about that entire side of the body. This is known as neglect, and individuals who experience this may forget to dress that side of the body or may continually bump into objects on that side. While it may appear that the person can not see to get around, he or she may actually be unaware that they must allow appropriate space for the neglected side of the body. Neglect most commonly occurs when a stroke has occurred in the right hemisphere of the brain. An individual's perception and awareness may also be affected by a stroke. He or she may be unable to understand speech, and may have problems with reading, writing, talking, or listening. Agnosia can also result from a stroke. A person with this condition may be able to clearly and correctly see an object, but can not name it. It is easy to see how this could be mistaken for a visual deficit when in fact it is a cognitive deficit in perception. Surgery, drugs, hospitalization, and rehabilitation are all currently accepted forms of treatment for stroke patients. The sooner the patient receives treatment, the better his or her chances are for surviving and minimizing the damage. The American Heart Association lists the following symptoms as important warning signs of a stroke: With regard to visual rehabilitation, people may receive many services, including low vision aides, rehabilitation teaching, and orientation and mobility training. However, physical weakness, loss of memory, and emotional lability (inappropriate emotions) may make rehabilitation more challenging for the stroke victim. Many patients are fully aware of the extent of their deficits, and may become depressed and frustrated with their progress. Patience and reassurance are important keys to the rehabilitation process. | |||
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