Abstract
Purpose: :
The Veterans Health Administration has established a polytrauma system to provide medical care and rehabilitation services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurring during OEF/OIF. The polytrauma network site (PNS) in this system provides post-acute rehabilitation services. An observational study was performed to describe the visual function of veterans receiving vision screening and eye examinations.
Methods: :
A retrospective medical record review was performed for all (194) patients with polytrauma and or TBI followed by the PNS.
Results: :
Mean age and visual acuity were 30.14 years, .047 log MAR with 4 NLP. Visual field loss was found in 9.52% of those examined. Vision complaints were expressed during screening by 74.24% and 65.15% of those screened were referred for eye examination. Symptoms most frequently reported included: blurred vision (51.28%), difficulty with night vision (23.08%), photosensitivity (43.59%), difficulty reading (35.90%), new reading symptoms since injury (23.08%), diplopia (16.67%), pain around eyes (11.54%), floaters (7.05%), flashes (5.13%) and pain on eye movement (4.49%). Diagnoses included: orbit/eye trauma (15.48%) optic neuropathy (1.19%), other cranial nerve defects (1.19%), strabismus (5.95%), accommodative disorders (39.95%), convergence disorders (17.86%), pursuits/saccade disorders (7.14%), fixation disorders (3.57%), diplopia (9.52%) and suppression (1.19%). Treatments prescribed included: ophthalmic surgery (4.76%), spectacle prescription (54.76%), contact lenses (2.38%), vision therapy (7.14%), blind rehabilitation (5.92%), and low vision rehabilitation (1.19%).
Conclusions: :
The frequency of visual symptoms and diagnoses supports inclusion of vison care services at the PNS.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • visual impairment: neuro-ophthalmological disease • trauma