Visual Function: Assessment and Intervention in Neurological Clients (OTD 622)

Flashcards covering assessment and intervention for visual function in neurologically impaired clients, including assessment domains, remediation/compensation/adaptation strategies, and specific vision disorders and treatments.

What are the five components of optimal visual function?

Visual acuity, oculomotor skills, contrast sensitivity, pupillary function, and visual fields.

Visual function is also the basis for other client factors. Name them.

Visual perception, cognition, eye-hand coordination, balance, and mobility.

What are the main assessment domains used to evaluate visual function in neurologically impaired clients?

Visual acuity (near and distance), oculomotor skills (ROM, pursuits, convergence/divergence, saccades, pupillary function), and visual fields (confrontation testing, scanning, line bisection, drawings).

What are the three major categories of interventions for visual dysfunction?

Remediation, compensation, and adaptations.

Remediation for visual dysfunction is only possible under what conditions?

Oculomotor conditions caused by muscle weakness or CN involvement.

Give examples of remediation strategies for oculomotor dysfunction.

Moving objects closer, organized scanning patterns, line guides, anchors; ROM and tracking exercises; head movements; increased lighting; increased contrast; Dynavision; Brock string.

What is occlusion used for in visual rehabilitation?

To eliminate double vision (diplopia) and improve ADLs; types include total/partial occlusion and opaque/translucent occluders.

What are binocular vision disorders and their common etiologies?

Disorders of binocular function, either strabismic or nonstrabismic; may result from cranial nerves III, IV, VI injury or midbrain/oculomotor nuclei injury.

What is the primary symptom of binocular vision disorders?

Diplopia (double vision) that interferes with daily tasks.

What is convergence insufficiency and a common treatment exercise?

Difficulty converging on near objects; may cause headaches; Brock string exercise trains convergence/divergence.

What visual field deficits are commonly seen after stroke or TBI?

Hemianopsia or quadrantanopia; caused by lesions along the visual pathways; right hemisphere affects left VF, left hemisphere affects right VF.

What strategies are used to treat visual field deficits when remediation is not effective?

Compensation and adaptation: organized scanning, high-contrast anchors, line guides, prism glasses; turn head toward affected side; place items on unaffected side; increase environmental organization.

What is a prism system in VFD management?

Prisms shift an image from the impaired field to the intact field; prescribed by optometrists; Fresnel prisms often used temporarily.

What is vision therapy sometimes called?

Orthoptic vision training, visual training, or eye training.

Why is client and family education important in vision rehabilitation?

Promotes independence by informing prognosis, progression, environmental adaptations, resources, and ongoing support.

What percentage of right-hemisphere stroke patients show visual field deficits?

About 36% for right-stroke; about 25% for left-stroke.

What is the impact of visual deficits on daily occupations?

Affects engagement in daily activities through effects on perception, cognition, coordination, balance, and mobility.

What is the role of optometrists in prism prescriptions and VFD management?

They prescribe prisms for VFD and determine if the patient has good awareness; Fresnel prisms are commonly used temporarily.