Volume 51 Number 1, 2014
Pages 71 — 80
Abstract — Chronic visual dysfunction after blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury
M. Teresa Magone, MD;* Ellen Kwon, OD; Soo Y. Shin, MD
Department of Surgery/Eye Clinic, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC
Abstract — The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term visual dysfunction in patients after blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mbTBI) using a retrospective case series of 31 patients with mbTBI (>12 mo prior) without eye injuries. Time since mbTBI was 50.5 +/– 19.8 mo. Age at the time of injury was 30.0 +/– 8.3 yr. Mean corrected visual acuity was 20/20. Of the patients, 71% (n = 22) experienced loss of consciousness; 68% (n = 15) of patients in this subgroup were dismounted during the blast injury. Overall, 68% (n = 21) of patients had visual complaints. The most common complaints were photophobia (55%) and difficulty with reading (32%). Of all patients, 25% were diagnosed with convergence insufficiency and 23% had accommodative insufficiency. Patients with more than one mbTBI had a higher rate of visual complaints (87.5%). Asymptomatic patients had a significantly longer time (62.5 +/– 6.2 mo) since the mbTBI than symptomatic patients (42.0 +/– 16.4 mo, p < 0.004). Long-term visual dysfunction after mbTBI is common even years after injury despite excellent distance visual acuity and is more frequent if more than one incidence of mbTBI occurred. We recommend obtaining a careful medical history, evaluation of symptoms, and binocular vision assessment during routine eye examinations in this prepresbyopic patient population.
Key words: accommodative insufficiency, blast-induced traumatic brain injury, combat-related traumatic brain injury, convergence insufficiency, dismounted injury, eyes, loss of consciousness, mild traumatic brain injury, near vision deficit, photophobia, traumatic brain injury, visual dysfunction.
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This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows:
Magone MT, Kwon E, Shin SY. Chronic visual dysfunction after blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(1):71–80.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.01.0008
Magone MT, Kwon E, Shin SY. Chronic visual dysfunction after blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(1):71–80.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.01.0008
ResearcherID/ORCID: M. Teresa Magone, MD: B-3073-2014
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Last Reviewed or Updated Wednesday, April 9, 2014 12:23 PM
