Visual impairment is a very common consequence in stroke survivors—almost 50% of stroke survivors become visually impaired. This is primarily because the brain’s visual pathways are blocked or damaged when a person experiences a stroke. As a result, patients often complain about issues like blurred or double vision. In some cases, they can also experience loss of peripheral vision. These issues can interfere with their daily lives, mobility, and independence. For many, they can serve as obstacles in their recovery process.
This is where eye exercises become significant in rehabilitation efforts. This article will discuss these eye exercises for improved vision extensively, but first, we will explore the effect of a stroke on one’s vision.
How does Stroke affect vision?
When a stroke occurs, the flow of blood to the brain is compromised. It can damage the affected areas of the brain. Depending on the impacted areas, several secondary effects may result.
If the stroke affects areas such as the occipital lobe, cerebellum, brainstem, or parietal lobe, the patient may experience sight-related issues. While the occipital lobe primarily takes care of visual functions, the cerebellum, brainstem, and parietal lobe also play significant roles in vision.
Types of Vision Changes
The human vision is dependent on multiple components that include:
- Oculomotor Skills: These involve the control of the eye muscles. When these skills are impacted due to a stroke, conditions such as nystagmus (rapid and involuntary eye movements), diplopia (double vision), or strabismus (eye misalignment) may arise.
- Visual Perceptual Skills: These refer to the brain’s ability to understand and interpret what the eyes see. When these skills are affected, problems like understanding visual information occur. Common conditions include visual agnosia (difficulty recognizing and distinguishing what is being seen) and hemineglect (the inability to understand the surroundings on one side of the body).
Regular eye exercises for improved vision are recommended as they help improve visual power through adaptive rewiring or neuroplasticity.
Eye Exercises for Improved Vision After Stroke
Here are some of the most effective eye exercises for oculomotor and visual perceptual skills to help you improve or regain your vision after a stroke.
Eye Exercises for Oculomotor Skills
- Directional Tracking
Six muscles control the eye. This vision training exercise helps improve eye muscle control and blood flow. Start by taking a pencil and holding it at eye level, about 18 inches from your face. Focus on the pencil’s endpoint. Slowly move the pencil from left to right. Follow it without moving your head. Once the pencil is at the centre, move it from top to bottom. Without moving your head, follow the movement of the pencil with your eyes. Repeat it five times.
- Clock Rotations
Once you have mastered directional tracking or gazing, try clock rotations. It is an effective eye exercise for double vision. Start by looking straight ahead and imagine a clock in front of you. Gaze directly at the 12 o’clock without moving your face. Hold your gaze for 3-5 seconds. Then, return your gaze to a relaxed position. You should feel your eye muscles stretching.
Next, repeat the process by looking at the 1 o’clock position, then 2 o’clock, and so on. If focussing is difficult, ask someone for help and let them hold a pencil at each position. This exercise improves the strength of the eye muscles.
- Near/Far Focusing
If you are having trouble focusing, practice this exercise for improved vision. Hold your finger at arm’s length, breathe in, and look at the fingertip. Breathe out and look beyond the fingertip. This eye exercise helps improve focus and depth perception as the eyes focus between the finger and beyond. Repeat this exercise 10 times.
- Tromboning
Start with the finger at an arm’s length to strengthen your visual focus and coordination. Bring it closer, and while you do so, breathe in. Try the exercise by bringing it closer and closer. Take the finger away as you breathe out. Repeat this alternate movement at least 10 times.
Visual Perceptual Eye Exercises
- Word or Letter Searches
You can practice vision training exercises like word or letter searches to boost visual tracking. It helps boost attention and visual discrimination. You can practice searching for vowels or specific letters. This exercise also gives your caregiver an idea about visual neglect or field cuts you may face on one side of the activity.
- Hidden Picture Puzzles
This eye exercise involves searching for small images concealed inside a larger picture. You can look for pictures by searching up and down, side by side. Directional tracking techniques help enhance visual memory and perception skills. These techniques help strengthen constancy and figure-ground skills. The puzzles can be played on paper, or a more extensive version can be played in the form of a scavenger hunt or i-spy game. These activities help keep stroke survivors engaged and motivated to practice their skills and recover quickly.
- Peripheral Vision Stimulation
Eye exercises help survivors improve their interpretation of visual-spatial relationships. Their peripheral vision improves. Your caregiver can hold two pencils on each side of your face, at either side of your visual field. You need to look straight ahead. The pencils should be identifiable in your peripheral vision field. The caregiver can shift the pencil on one side closer and the other pencil further away. You will need to guess which pencil is closer to you.
Repeat this eye exercise at least 10 times.
Consulting Professionals
For stroke survivors with vision-related problems, it is crucial to work with seasoned vision therapists. Specialists create tailor-made programs to resolve specific visual impairments, designing tailored eye exercises that support regaining vision and function. This helps enhance the chances of recovery. Visit Rehab HQ today to discover how customized care and expert attention can make a difference in your recovery journey.
Conclusion
Eye exercises can help stroke survivors recover vision and functional skills. These exercises improve oculomotor and visual perceptual skills. They are designed to improve visual processing, coordination, and strength. Consistent practice is the key to achieving the best results. It is necessary to seek professional guidance and practice consistently. Expert therapists offer personalized guidance for optimal outcomes. Don’t hesitate to consult experts for comprehensive recovery.