Mind Matters

Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 4:30 PM by Sam Singal

By Robert Bazell, NBC News chief science correspondent

Tonight as we continue the series “Mind Matters” we report on exciting research that raises the hope that people who suffer loss of vision from strokes or brain injury can recover it from a treatment that looks like an early stage video game, but is backed by solid science. For a long time doctors have known that some people could recover the use of limbs or speech parallelized by brain injury or stroke through repetitive physical therapy. But the belief was that eyesight could not be re-wired. The initial results with this technology shows it may be possible for some people -- with an enormous amount of hard work to get some of their vision back.

To get more information on Visual Restoration Therapy click here.

The company that makes the device also puts up a free, five-minute, interactive online vision test for stroke and brain injury survivors who wish to learn if a vision deficit exists as a result of their injuries.

Also I would like to give a nod to the people at a rehabilitation facility called Living Resources in Albany, NY who proved enormously helpful to Bart Goldstein, the young man we profile – and to us in preparing the report.

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Comments

I missed most of this NBC vision report so don't know how much their reporter had to say but assume it was on NOVAVISION THERAPY. I lost all my vision on the left side to a stroke in 2002 and have been following NOVAVISION THERAPY ever since. The problem is I can never get complete and accurate information from them. I'am 73 years old and don't want to waste $8,000 on a fake therapy. Is there anyway I can get your report on my computer? Did it sound for real to your reporter? Thanks.

Jerald Williams,Westbrook,Maaine (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:35 PM)

Our son was sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car accident 5 years ago. He lost most of his vision due to optic neuropathy, and was in a coma for several weeks. Can this therapy help TBI survivors with optic neuropathy? I appreciate the additional information about the therapy posted here, including the online vision test.

Mark, Yorktown, Va (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:03 PM)

Visual Restoration Therapy, cognitive retraining, hands on supports in the homes and local communities for individuals with traumatic brain injuries are part of the collaborative efforts which make it possible for folks surviving a traumatic brain injury to move forward with their lives. Thank you for your positive and hope filled presentation.

David Borge, Living Resources, Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:32 AM)

Mr. Williams,
Please access, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23695316#23695316 to view the entire video presentation. As always we are happy to answer your questions and encourage you once again to call our Patient Services Department. For clarification, there have been multiple studies proving the efficacy of vision restoration therapy, and the cost varies between Centers (approximately $6,000)

Debra Riegner, NovaVision, Boca Raton, FL (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:51 AM)

I completed the 6 module VRT therapy last year after a rare brain infection greatly affected my left of center peripheral vision. Theraphy is approx 30 minutes twice a day, 6 days a week for 6 months. My before and affter visual field tests did show improvement and I do feel my life has improved since completing VRT therapy. My field lost went from a complete half to about a quarter. I would have liked to continue with therapy but being on disability and not covered by insurance I could not afford the additional expense.

Jeff K, Columbus Ohio (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 4:40 PM)

My husband was diagnosed with a gleoblastoma brain tumor. After the operation he lost the left field of vision. He is currently on the last module of VRT and has shown improvement. He has more confidence walking around, in crowded areas, and has not ran into a wall or door in a few months. We are looking forward to more improvement and hope that insurance will soon cover this completely for surgery and cancer patients.

Getsingers, Oceanside CA (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 5:10 PM)

This question is for the all the so-called experts on the mind. How many folks in the funeral home have a human mind? How dangerous have their minds proven to be? Evidently, or as they say in the scientific community, empirically, something is wrong with their conclusion!

Henry Pennymon, Orlando, Florida (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 6:58 PM)

Overall the news piece was quite accurate. As is common in these types of reports a few details can be left out or wording is not exact. The reporter’s description of vision restoration therapy as “experimental” is inaccurate. This therapy that was FDA-cleared in April 2003 and has been commercially released through leading medical centers to hundreds of patients since that time. I have been offering the therapy for over a year and the majority of my patients (well over 70%) have improved their vision and feel that their quality of life has greatly improved as a result.

Kevin M. Chauvette, O.D., FCOVD, Merrimack Vision Care, Manchester & Merrimack NH. (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:35 PM)

In Response to Mark from Yorktown, VA: VRT can help patients with optic nerve damage from traumatic injuries, however, this treatment specifically restores peripheral vision.In early studies, patients with optic nerve damage actually gained back more peripheral vision than those who suffered a stroke.
If your son has lost a considerable amount of central vision he may not be an ideal candidate. The visual acuity in his better eye needs to be at least 20/200 to meet the criteria. Your best bet is to locate a center near you by searching at www.helpforvisionloss.com and schedule your son for an evaluation to determine if he is a candidate.

Kevin M. Chauvette, O.D., FCOVD, Merrimack Vision Care, Manchester & Merrimack NH. (Sent Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:09 PM)

I am a survivor of traumatic brain injury Aug 2001. Was in a coma for 3 weeks, Glasgow coma scale of 6. I was near completion of my PhD with 5 classes left. With 3 years of healing and lots of prayers I was able to return to work and am a fully functioning school psychologists. I finally completed all the requirements needed for my PhD but there seems to be discrimination at this university to grant someone with a head injury a PhD. My research was on educators' knowledge of traumatic brain injury, Dec 2007, and results indicated it was inadequate. My personal experience at the university also indicated this to me. Apart from my scars, I look and function normally but the 'hidden disability' is there. There is hope for many with brain injuries.

Rosetta Seepaul, Tacoma, WA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:37 PM)

I am on the fourth module of the NovaVista Vision Restoration Therapy. The only result I have received from their Scottsdale, Az centre, by EMail to me, was with respect to Module 1, and it was mainly graphs, with little explanation, and I was unable to print their EMail with attachment. Module 2 and 3 have been sent to Florida, as requested by NovaVision, and my understanding is these are forwarded to Scottsdale for analysis. There has been no communication to me as to the analysis, and I an unaware if there is any improvement.

While I am very pleased with the prompt responses to my queries that I receive from the Boca Roca office in Florida, I cannot say the same for the Scottsdale Centre.

Richard S. Buckland, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:05 PM)

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