I met
with my eye doctor last week about taking some time off from my vision therapy.
I have been doing therapy since my stroke almost two and a half years ago. I am
tired, and a need a break.
My
doctor said, “This is completely understandable. Take some time off.”
At the
appointment, my doctor tested my vision. Because of the strokes, my vision was
affected, and I have a problem in my field of vision on the right side. I have
a deficit with my right side peripheral vision. However, it is getting better.
During
the test, I told him that I “sense things on the right side of my peripheral
vision.” It seems that I know that something is there, but I cannot really distinguish
what it is.
He
told me that there is a body of thought describing phantom vision or phantom blindness.
A Polish
researcher, L. Bieganowski, described this phantom blindness this way: “The subject of
the paper is the phenomenon of phantom vision. It occurs among the blind (or
almost blind) and is characterized by perceiving various visual sensations, for
example: light, geometrical shapes, buildings, people, flowers etc. The paper
presents views explaining the generation of phantom vision. According to
Melzack's theory, the occurrence of these sensations is explained in relation
to the phenomenon of transforming the neuro-activity of the brain in a
specific--for each organ--neuronal network called neuromatrix. Even if some
organs do exist but have ceased to function completely (or to a significant
degree) and consequently the brain does not receive any sensory stimuli from
them, the neuromatrix in brain can generate visual sensations constituting the
phantom vision phenomenon.”
I
said, “This is really interesting. However, is this good or bad considering my
vision issues?” He stressed “This is great news!”
So, I am
going to take a month or two off from therapy. However, I will continue doing
home vision therapy.
I will
continuing doing the “Hart Chart” to
improve ability to organize and visually track while maintaining peripheral
awareness.
What you do is this:
1. The patient stands in a relaxed an
balanced posture. One eye is patched.
2. The Hart Chart is placed at eye
level. The patient should be a comfortable distance (2-3 feet) from the chart.
Set the metronome at sixty beats per minute.
3. The patient is asked to read the
letters out loud in a rhythmic fashion without moving their head – one letter
per beat of the metronome. The patient reads the entire chart proceeding from
left to right, top to bottom. The patient should be encouraged to maintain
peripheral awareness of the whole chart and of other objects in the room.
4. Repeat for the other eye. As this
becomes easier, take several steps back from the chart.
5. If there are significant differences
between the eyes, practice the poorer eye more frequently.
Level II – Outside In
1. Have the patient start with the
first line of letters and read in the following order: first letter, last
letter, second letter, second from last letter, and so on.
2. The patient should read each line
from the ends to the middle in this fashion.
Level III – Columns 1. The patient
reads the first and last letter of each line. When they get to the bottom of
the chart, they should proceed to the second and second-to-last letter of each
row. When these two columns are completed, the patient should move to the next
two columns in and so on.
Level IV – Obliques
1. When the above activities have been
mastered, the patient begins reading the first letter of the first column, last
letter of the last column, second letter in the first column and next to last
letter in the last column. (He reads the first column top to bottom alternating
with the last column bottom to top.)
2. When this has been achieved, the
patient should progress to the second and second to last column. Repeat with
the remaining columns.
Here
is a YouTube video about the Hart Chart:
Also, “Slap
Tap” which is described this way:
This activity is a
sheet that hangs on the wall in front of the patient. There are a series of
symbols which represent left arm, left leg, right arm, and right leg. During
this activity the patient will read each symbol and call out the direction
while moving the corresponding body part. Once this has become automatic for
the patient, they will move to the second series which adds both arms and both
legs. This activity will help patients gain a better sense of their own body
and directions. By making directionality automatic for patients, visualization
will become easier. For many patients activities such as slap tap help if there
is difficulty reversing letters or numbers.
Here
is a YouTube video about this:
It is amazing that I have been doing therapy for two plus years. I have
done about 300# therapy sessions since my strokes. I will continue doing therapy
plus I will continue working on the Boards that I am on including the College
of Western Idaho, the Idaho Housing and Finance Board, and the Idaho Chapter of
the American Heart and Stroke Association.
But, years ago when I completed my first round of therapy after the
strokes, my doctor and my therapists at St. Al’s Rehab told me that part of my therapy
was "just to live" and be with my family.
I will take that advice. For now. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, "I will be back!"
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