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Effect of oculomotor rehabilitation on vergence responsivity in mild traumatic brain injury. Preethi Thiagarajan, BS Optom, MS, PhD; Kenneth J. Ciuffreda, OD, PhD. Aim
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Effect of oculomotor rehabilitation on vergence responsivity in mild traumatic brain injury Preethi Thiagarajan, BS Optom, MS, PhD; Kenneth J. Ciuffreda, OD, PhD
Aim • Evaluate range of dynamic and static vergence responses in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) having near vision symptoms. • Relevance • Following acute phase and natural recovery period, most individuals with mTBI having vision-related symptoms are diagnosed with ≥1 oculomotor dysfunctions.
Method • Participants: • 12 individuals with mTBI and near vision symptoms. • Crossover design: • Before and after oculomotor training (OMT) and placebo (P) training.
Results • After OMT: • Increased peak velocity for convergence and divergence. • Correlation between increased peak velocity and increased clinically based vergence prism flipper rate. • Reduced steady-state response variability for convergence. • Improved maximum amplitude of convergence, relative fusional amplitudes, and near stereoacuity. • Reduced symptoms • Markedly improved visual attention. • After P training: • No significant changes.
Conclusion • Most aspects of vergence eye movements significantly improved after OMT. • Demonstrates considerable residual brain plasticity via oculomotor learning. • Improved vergence positively affected near work-related symptoms and visual attention.