Visual field defects after stroke--a practical guide for GPs.
BACKGROUND
Visual field defect after stroke can result in significant disability and reduction in quality of life. Visual rehabilitation aims to maximise the residual vision and decrease functional disability. Understanding the rehabilitation options available, and where to refer patients with visual defects after a stroke, can help patients, and their families, in the rehabilitation process.


OBJECTIVE
This article provides a review of the functional disability from visual field loss and discusses the various forms of visual rehabilitation.


CONCLUSIONS
Optical therapy, eye movement therapy and visual field restitution are the rehabilitation therapies currently available. Rehabilitation needs to cater to each patient's specific needs. Any patient recognised as having a visual field defect after stroke needs prompt referral for further assessment and consideration for visual rehabilitation.
Luu
Susie
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hosptial, South Australia.
Lee
Andrew W
AW
Daly
Andrew
A
Chen
Celia S
CS
D005133:Eye Movements; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006423:Hemianopsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*