Visual profile of acquired brain injury in Indian cohort: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

Objective

With the increasing global prevalence of acquired brain injury (ABI), the burden of visual problems as a sequelae to ABI is on the rise. This study reports the visual profile of patients with ABI seen in Neuro-Optometry Clinic (NOC) at a tertiary eye-care center in Southern India.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out between January 2014 and December 2015. Medical records of patients diagnosed with ABI referred by Neuro-Ophthalmologists to the NOC were reviewed. The detailed history, clinical findings of neuro assessment and management details were recorded.

Results

Of the 241 patients with ABI, 208 had Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and 33 had Cerebro-Vascular Accident (CVA). The mean (SD) age of patients with TBI was 35 ± 14 years and CVA was 52 ± 16 years. Binocular diplopia (61%) was seen predominantly in TBI due to vertical deviation (31%). Cranial nerve palsy was most common in TBI (55%) than CVA (36%) and visual field defects were most frequently seen in CVA (27%).

Conclusion

Cranial nerve paresis and restrictive strabismus with diplopia were the most common presentations in TBI and visual field defects in CVA. A neuro-optometric evaluation is recommended to identify visual dysfunctions and provide appropriate management options.

ABBREVIATIONS

ABI: Acquired Brain Injury; TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury; CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident; NOC: Neuro-Optometry Clinic; NSBVA: Non-Strabismic binocular vision anomalies; OMD: Oculomotor dysfunction; VFD: Visual field defect; GON: Glaucomatous optic neuropathy

KEYWORDS:

• Acquired Brain Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cerebro-Vascular Accident
• Strabismus
• Cranial nerve paresis

Acknowledgments

Dr Shikha Bassi R, Dr Durga Priyadarshini, Dr Vidhya Dharani M, Dr Padmalakshmi K.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest

Statement of authorship

Category 1

a. Conception and design – Ambika S, Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen, Revathy Mani, Ayisha Atiya, and Aishwarya Ravi

b. Acquisition of Data – Ayisha Atiya, Aishwarya Ravi, Bidisha Bhattacharya

c. Analysis and interpretation of data – Ayisha Atiya, Aishwarya Ravi, and Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen

Category 2

a. Drafting of Manuscript – Ambika S, Ayisha Atiya, Aishwarya Ravi, and Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen

b. Revising it for intellectual content - Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen, Revathy Mani, Ambika S and Smita Praveen

Category 3

a. Final approval of the completed manuscript - Ayisha Atiya, Ambika S, Aishwarya Ravi, Jameel Rizwana Hussaindeen, Revathy Mani and Smita Praveen.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study