Surgery after TBI may restore vision
A small study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine revealed that surgery can restore vision in patients who have suffered hemorrhaging in the eye following a traumatic brain injury(TBI).
According to an article on Technology.com, the surgery is even successful if it occurs several months following the TBI or brain injury.
“During a retinal surgery, Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, removes blood from a hemorrhage that had interfered with the patient’s vision. Apte and his colleagues have found that such surgery can restore good vision in patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, even if the surgery has to be delayed for several weeks or months,” the article reads. “During a retinal surgery, Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, removes blood from a hemorrhage that had interfered with the patient’s vision. Apte and his colleagues have found that such surgery can restore good vision in patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, even if the surgery has to be delayed for several weeks or months.”
Researchers with the study discovered that surgery to remove vitreous gel, which is the liquid that fills the space between the eye lens and the retina, netted patients 20/20 vision following surgery – even those who going into the surgery were legally blind.
“The researchers … studied patients who developed hemorrhaging in the eye related to brain injuries suffered in motor vehicle accidents. Prior to surgery, some patients could barely detect a hand waved in front of their faces. But a few months later, the majority had 20/20 vision,” the article reads. “These patients often have other issues related to brain injury, and we can’t work on the eye until a patient has stabilized, said principal investigator Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD. It was important to learn how long we could wait to operate without having a negative effect on vision. In the majority of cases, it appears vision can be restored, even if the surgery is done several months after a traumatic brain injury.”
The average vision in patients after their accidents, but prior to their surgeries was reportedly 20/1290. Within one month of the surgery, the average was 20/40.
A few months later, almost all patients had 20/20 vision, according to the article. There was no significant difference between those who had surgery right away and those who waited more than three months.
