Indirect Optic Nerve Trauma - Treatment Options
 

After 9 months of healing it is becoming clear that the big issue remaining for my daughter is indirect optic nerve trauma.*

She has a slight convergance problem, nystagmus, and occassional blurred vision. Otherwise her optic nerves look healthy and her vision is 20/20.

This is NOT a lot to complain about, but it seems to be contributing to her remaining symptoms (short, intense "zappy" headches several times a day, anxiety). Otherwise from what I can tell she doesn't have "bad enough" symptoms (visual field loss, etc) to qualify for therapy through NORA or NOVA.

Our optomitrist gave us a series of eye exercises to do at home. We have heard from three different eye doctors now that it is not uncommon for this type of injury to take a year or more to heal.

Any experiences anyone would like to share with respect to eye exercises or therapy?

*We may have some hormone issues as well, but the neuro said we should wait a couple more months to do extensive testing because between the head injury and her age (16) her hormones are fluctuating like crazy right now. We could end up chasing our tails with testing/treating a hormone imbalance if we don't give it a little time to calm down on its own.

Our optomitrist gave us a series of eye exercises to do at home. We have heard from three different eye doctors now that it is not uncommon for this type of injury to take a year or more to heal.

Any experiences anyone would like to share with respect to eye exercises or therapy?

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Hello, PCS Learner - I am of course much older than your daughter;
I am age 57, female, 19 mos. post-collision injury. I am just in the past month beginning to 'feel' more like my self again, which has been 'huge' improvement; and to feel improvement in function.

However perhaps like your daughter, zappy headaches still come and go, and *vision* remains an enduring problem/difficulty. Same thing with me: diplopia (double-vision x 19 mos. straight now) and blurry-vision (x 19 mos.), convergence difficulties (ongoing), and exotopia (eye turns outward to side, especially under stressful lighting conditions and when 'brain fatigued' & physically tired.

I cannot drive long distances nor at night.

I did see a vision therapy optometrist who worked with me with eye exercises and visual aids; it was quite long distance to go to his office, so I was only able to make one visit. I was given exercises to do at home.

My experience is that it all would likely had been very good for me, as I know others with young children who said it helped residual MTBI problems and learning difficulty on many levels. In my case, however,
it all was "so fast" and my trauma-ed brain had no recall/memory whatsoever of HOW to do the vision exercises/therapies once I was back home!

I called and they wrote them out and mailed them to me. Still could not make sense of them or carry them out. So, I am 'solo' in all of this and that's just how it is in my case.

Thus, you with your daughter to watch and remember, take notes, etc. (or even VIDEO the whole thing with the eye vision therapist doc,perhaps?) --- I have faith that with Mom as Coach, that you all will hopefully see improvement.

And, she has youth on her side and her body's amazing ability to help heal itself --- and a great Mother. Happy Mother's Day weekend to you all, PCSLearner! - Theta

P.S. --- I have a first appt. next week to see one of the 'top' neuro-ophthalmologists (there are only 3-4 in the entire state, I learned) at one of the biggest universitymedical centers. I hope to learn more of what I'm dealing with in regard to my vision and why the big changes in my vision since the MTBI. For example, *is* there in fact optic nerve damage or cervical nerve 'bruising' or whatever? These are answers I've not gotten. I'm glad that your daughter has been confirmed that there is no nerve damage. As you say, in my case also, "This is not a lot to complain about." Yet it does contribute to ongoing problems. I'll be interested to hear how vision therapy goes for your daughter. One mom I know in my support group is so impressed with the benefits her 6-yr old son has received via v.t., that she is making a career change to optometry. She laughingly says: "That's the best option vs. all the longdistance driving to continue to see the only v.t. available." Smiles.

Theta Z - I would be interested in what they have to say. As I have these issues as well. Like everything else some days are better than the other when it comes to my vision. My vision acuity continues to get worst, seems like everytime I go I have to get a new script. I would like to know why after a brain injury that some experience worsting of their vision. Is it because of a lack of stimulation.

Most of the eye doctors reassure me that my eye itself is fine it is the brain that is not sending the correct signals. I have tried bi-focals to help with the focusing at near and it helps some, but I am at the point now I don't read much anymore. I am good for about 10-15 minutes and then I know I have to stop. I have tried VT and felt it did help. I stopped because of a variety of reasons but might try it again. The doctors that I see say that if it hasn't corrected by now it probably won't.

Let us know how it goes..would really love to read a good reason for the vision issues many have.

We are as isolated as you, ThetaZ. There is one neuro op 250 miles in one direction...3 months wait. Another 300 miles in the other direction...4 month wait. We opted for a guy who travels through town...mistake. Anyway...our regular family optomitrist gave us the most help. He explained difference between optic trauma and optic damage. My daughter has trauma.

Google "post traumatic vision syndrome". There is a 3-part article by some NORA docs on the neuro skills website about post traumatic vision syndrome. Perhaps print it out and take it with you to your appointment.

Don't give up hope that things will improve with your vision. I don't have any experience in this area, but in the book "Brainlash" the author Gail Denton talks about how vision therapy made huge difference in her recovery when she started 6+ year post injury.

For those that haven't read the book, it really gave me a better understanding of what my daughter was going through. I highly recommend it.