I just wanted to post a link to this article on the benefits of prisms for many MTBI survivors.

My neuro-opthamologist had told me the same thing: that wearing prisms (if you have visual dysfunction as many mtbi people do, not only relieves the cognitive load on your brain (visual processing is one of the most complex tasks) BUT it also stimulates neurplasticity and regeneration beyond the visual areas. This is summarized nicely on page nine of this report.

I feel as if I made HUGE progress (not enoughh though) after a month of wearing prisms.


Http://www.unl.edu/dbrainlab/*files/...2_EyeBrain.pdf

As is proven by the fact that Hillary Clinton had them within days. They obviously help yet here I am at 8 months still waiting for an appointment to see someone only to get a referral to see the person I need to see!

I think my eyes have gotten a little bit better though so I'm sure with time they will be fine but I bet I could have seen results quicker with the right doctors and care!!

Way to go Mokey now you have me ranting!!!!!

CC

Sorry!! But I can empathise. Still waiting for a call from the only one in Winnipeg...I was referred a year ago!!! If I hadn't have driven out of province, I can't imagine how much more I would be suffering. Yikes!!! My MDs here had NO CLUE about visual issues post mtbi.
Hang in there!!!!!

Before my injury I had good eyesight for distance and reading (could read 3pt) and very good balance. Since then it has all gone to pot with blurred vision and constant falls.

I had a visual assessment recently and they found out that one eye tends to “shut down” temporarily before recovering but then both eyes don’t work as a team. They also found that I am overly dependent on visual input to help me balance – in reduced light or darkness my balance gets worse as there is less light input. They tried prisms which made things considerably worse. However, until they will try them again when they have fixed the underlying condition with a prescription lens and some vision therapy.

Because of the delays with our health service – I had to pay privately £150 – $225 US probably the best part of money I have spent on recovery so far as they are the only ones that have come anywhere near any sort of remedial solution.

I would recommend a visual assessment even if it is rule out visual problems.

Sounds like me! My neuro opthamologist only prescribed prisms a year after my injury and after doing vision therapy for about six months.

One side of the vision will shut down when the brain is overloaded trying to make sense of your eyes sending different images to the back of the retina. Too much work so to be more efficient it shuts down one side.
I first noticed that when one day my world went two D (2d)... It was like I was looking at a streetscape that was a painting instead of real life.
If you find that happening you are supposed to wiggle fingers in front of that eye, tap it a bit, etc. to let your brain know to wake up. You don't want it to become a permanent state of affairs.
I have improved, still room to improve, but there is hope!

The 2d thing is quite interesting. One of the things the examination showed is that I have poor depth perception. It is quite interesting when people point things:

- That before I go through a door I take an extra half step sideways to line myself up. I hadn't noticed I did it.

- I subconciously hold on to or reach out to touch them when I walk. Apparently I do this not only help me balance but also use it to test distance something I didn't realise I did.

- Animations of spirals, tunnels or high definition fly throughs put my brain into overload. This is down to my brain trying to work out the distance as the objects move the 2d / 3d conversion.

Like most things when someone whom know their stuff explains it to you at the right level it all seems so simple.

I think I do some of those things too. But the 2d thing happens less often (I think!)