Several years ago a patient was referred to me by a friend of hers. The patient had brain surgery and afterwards, started walking into walls. In other words, she couldn't walk in a straight line. During my examination, the patient had clear sight at distance and near. Also, the eyes appeared to be healthy. There was one finding that was terribly abnormal. That was the patient's peripheral vision. With the right eye closed, the patient couldn't see anything on the right side. With the left eye closed, the patient wasn't able to seen anything on the right side. This condition is called a right field hemianopsia. Apparently, the surgery interfered with the visual fibers going back to the part of the brain that deals with vision.
One of the problems was that the patient did not realize she had a vision problem of any type. Also, according to the patient, the doctor who performed the surgery thought she was faking her condition.
Fortunately, she responded to a treatment that I have yet to use since I was in optometry school. I placed prisms in front of both eyes and shifted the world to the side. Immediately the patient was able to walk straight. This had profound effects on her life. She immediately was able to read better. She subsequently went back to work. Most importantly, her outlook on life was tremendously improved as she was no longer depressed.
One of the problems was that the patient did not realize she had a vision problem of any type. Also, according to the patient, the doctor who performed the surgery thought she was faking her condition.
Fortunately, she responded to a treatment that I have yet to use since I was in optometry school. I placed prisms in front of both eyes and shifted the world to the side. Immediately the patient was able to walk straight. This had profound effects on her life. She immediately was able to read better. She subsequently went back to work. Most importantly, her outlook on life was tremendously improved as she was no longer depressed.
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