Date Presented 03/22/24
The paper describes a quantitative retrospective study examining the effect of OT-led remedial vision on patient-reported occupational performance and satisfaction posttreatment. Significant results were found. OT’s role is discussed.
Primary Author and Speaker: Suzanne Briggs
Contributing Authors: Mitchell Scheiman, Yuki Asakura
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of OT-led remedial vision rehabilitation (RVR) on binocular vision, reported vision-related occupational performance, and satisfaction. Vision limitations are common after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and impact occupational performance. Research demonstrates the benefits and effectiveness of (RVR) after an mTBI with improved vision outcomes after therapy (Berryman et al., 2020; Scheiman et al., 2016). Few studies, however, have considered the patient’s improved reported vision-related performance and satisfaction following OT-led RVR.
DESIGN: A quantitative retrospective study gathered data pre/post-RVR via chart review. Convenience sampling was used over a one-year period, 18 years and older with a binocular vision diagnosis and mTBI diagnosis completed all pre/post measurements in an outpatient setting. RVR was administered in the clinic one to two times/week for 40 min with home reinforcement 15 min/day for five days/week.
METHOD: Pre/post measurements for vertical/horizontal saccades, vergence facility, near point convergence (NPC), Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement (COPM). Mean comparison and correlational analysis were performed with a 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS: 11 participants showed statistically significant changes in all measurements after RVR with a large-size effect using t-test analysis. Significant correlations were found for near-point convergence and vertical saccades with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement performance subtest and Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey with saccades using Pearson’s r analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Occupational therapy has a role in providing RVR; its use is supported (Reiser et al., 2020).
IMPLICATION: Specialty-trained occupational therapists, in collaboration with optometrists, can provide RVR, which may improve the eyes’ ability to function, enhancing vision-related ADL/iADL’s.
References
Berryman, A., Rasavage, K., Politzer, T., & Gerber, D. (2019). Oculomotor treatment in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation: a randomized controlled pilot trial. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(1), 7401185050. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.026880
Reiser, A., Bunin, G., & Scheiman, M. (2020). Concussion-related vision disorder practice patterns in occupational therapy: a survey. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1737
Scheiman, M. M., Talasan, H., Mitchell, G. L., & Alvarez, T. L. (2016). Objective assessment of vergence after treatment of concussion-related CI: A pilot study. Optometry and Vision Science, 94(1), 74–88. https://doi.org/10.1097/opx.0000000000000936
