Vision changes after a stroke affect more than just what you can see. They influence your ability to read, coordinate movements, maintain balance, and navigate daily activities with confidence. Vision disorders commonly appear after a stroke or brain injury, often accompanied by difficulties with eye movements. Yet many patients and even some physicians remain unaware of the rehabilitation options available today.
Two complementary approaches have been used to help stroke survivors address vision loss and eye movement difficulties. These include saccadic therapy and vision restoration therapy. While no treatment works for everyone, and results vary, understanding these options can help patients explore rehabilitation paths that may support their recovery.
Saccadic Therapy: Retraining Eye Movements
Patients who lose part of their visual field after a stroke often develop less efficient eye movement patterns. They tend to make smaller eye movements, focusing more on areas they can see while avoiding their blind spots. They fixate more frequently and struggle to integrate information from both sides of their field of vision, making it harder to grasp a scene as a whole or notice events in their peripheral vision.
Saccadic therapy trains patients to scan their surroundings more effectively. The primary goal is to improve visual search performance through more efficient eye movements, thereby supporting everyday functioning. Patients work on navigation skills and object finding, learning to direct their gaze toward blind areas so previously unseen objects come into view.
Historically, this type of training took place in rehabilitation centers or clinics under direct supervision, using expensive equipment or basic pen-and-paper techniques. Today, computer-based programs delivered over the internet allow patients to complete training at home. NovaVision’s NeuroEyeCoach is an evidence-based program that provides this type of saccadic training, either in conjunction with other therapies or as a standalone option.
Vision Restoration Therapy: Working With Partial Function
Vision restoration therapy takes a different approach. This method works with residual neuronal structures that survived the initial injury, focusing on areas of partial damage rather than complete loss. NovaVision’s Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT) uses structured visual stimulation to activate impaired visual functions in these transition zones, the borders between intact and damaged areas of the visual field.
The concept mirrors successful approaches used in other types of stroke rehabilitation, such as repetitive exercises that help restore movement in affected limbs. Patients perform the therapy at home using a computer, typically twice daily for several months. During each session, they focus on a central point on the screen and respond when they see light stimuli appearing elsewhere. The therapy adapts monthly as clinicians monitor progress and adjust the program to deliver maximum efficacy.
The process begins with a diagnostic evaluation that maps visual sensitivity based on detection frequency at various points. The system also records reaction times. NovaVision uses this information to construct an individualized therapy program, then adjusts future sessions based on each patient’s progress.
How These Approaches Work Together
NovaVision provides both therapies in a combined suite because they complement each other. Vision restoration therapy focuses on trying to improve visual field sensitivity, while saccadic therapy helps patients make better use of whatever vision they have. One works on supporting the recovery of visual functions and potentially improving visual field sensitivity. The other enables patients to maximize their remaining vision through more efficient eye movements and better integration of visual information.
Patients like Carole have shared their experiences with these programs. In an interview on the Lucy Ann Lance Show, Carole described her journey through vision restoration therapy. Her experience reflects one example of how individuals engage with these programs, though outcomes differ from person to person.
What to Consider
Vision rehabilitation after a stroke requires commitment and consistency. Programs typically run for several months and demand regular participation to achieve the intended training effect. Support from caregivers and family members often helps maintain motivation and address the technical aspects of at-home programs. The most important step is to explore every available option during recovery.
More choices exist now for stroke survivors dealing with vision loss than ever before. Whether saccadic therapy, vision restoration therapy, or other rehabilitation approaches may be appropriate depends on each individual’s medical situation. Speaking with a qualified specialist is the best way to understand which options align with your needs.
For more information on the VRT offered by NovaVision, review the answers to our most frequently asked questions here.
If you or someone you care about is dealing with vision changes after a stroke or brain injury, reach out to a healthcare provider who specializes in vision rehabilitation. Understanding the tools and therapies available puts you in a stronger position to make informed decisions about your recovery journey.
