Correctable visual impairment in stroke rehabilitation patients.
BACKGROUND
after stroke, visual impairment may exacerbate the impact of other impairments on overall disability and negatively influence rehabilitation.


OBJECTIVE
to examine the visual status of patients after stroke and determine whether this can be improved by simple interventions.


METHODS
prospective study.


METHODS
stroke rehabilitation unit in a Belfast teaching hospital.


METHODS
77 consecutive patients admitted for rehabilitation after acute stroke.


METHODS
full optometric and ophthalmic assessment within 2 weeks of admission.


RESULTS
of 70 patients with glasses, 19 did not have their glasses in hospital before prompting and 18 had glasses in unacceptable condition. Twenty patients had impaired visual acuity (6/12 or worse) with existing glasses (if helpful); 11 of these improved to better than 6/12 with refractive correction.


CONCLUSIONS
stroke professionals need to enquire about patients' spectacles and assess their condition. Patients with reduced visual acuity in the absence of significant non-refractive disease should be referred to an optometrist: in this series 14% of patients had visual impairment which benefited from refractive correction.
Lotery
A J
AJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
Wiggam
M I
MI
Jackson
A J
AJ
Refson
K
K
Fullerton
K J
KJ
Gilmore
D H
DH
Beringer
T R
TR
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity