For years it has been our mission at NovaVision to improve the vision of patients with neurologically induced visual disorders. We strive to enhance the quality of life for our patients and their families alike by offering a portfolio of FDA registered therapies and diagnostic products for vision disorders resulting from a stroke or other brain injury. One of these therapies is our Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT).
There are countless stroke survivors and patients recovering from other brain injuries who could be eligible for VRT. Despite our therapies being evidence-based and supported by decades of scientific research, we sometimes hear the following misconceptions, which may be preventing them from taking steps towards restoring their lost vision with VRT:
- It is impossible to recover your vision once it has been lost
It is true that historically more traditional views have been that the brain is hardwired in early childhood; therefore, patients couldn’t possibly expect significant recovery of any brain function, including eyesight, as an adult. Recent findings show that the adult brain has remarkable plasticity that is retained throughout your lifetime. Since this discovery, therapies for both motor and visual impairments have been developed and have been shown to lead to significant recovery of lost functionality. The process that the brain goes through to regain these lost functions, such as lost vision, is called ‘neuroplasticity.’ If harnessed and carefully guided through supervised treatments, plasticity can enhance and speed up recovery and restore lost vision.
When a brain is damaged so is the network of neurons that process vision. Some networks in the brain, however, are duplicated and the systematic stimulation of the damaged area with light stimuli at a specific location enables the activation and usage of alternative routes to process visual information allowing the brain to develop a bypass mechanism. Repetitive stimulation has proven effective not only in vision but also in the recovery of other motor neuron functions such as movements of lower limbs after stroke.
- There isn’t enough science to support new methods of recovery
Over the years, we’ve dedicated countless hours and resources to conducting scientific studies to help our team create the best possible therapies targeted at vision disorders resulting from stroke and other brain injuries. NovaVision VRT is supported by over 15 years of research and 20 clinical studies, including a 302-patient study in which notable improvements were seen in over 70% of the patients.
This information not only gives us powerful data supporting the success of VRT, but it has helped us fine-tune the science behind this specific therapy. Following the initial diagnostic phase, the patient undergoes repeated stimulation of specific areas of the impaired visual field that still demonstrates some residual vision. The presence of residual vision is an indicator for the likelihood of improvement following VRT treatment. Intense, frequently repeated and targeted light stimulation has proven to strengthen and restore visual functions in the targeted areas of the visual field. You can learn even more about our studies and how VRT works here and also read real life success stories from some of our many patients.
- Therapy is expensive and inconvenient
Rome wasn’t built in a day and unfortunately, recovery won’t happen overnight, which is exactly why our team has made VRT as effective and convenient as possible for patients. Unlike other therapies, it does not require surgery or medication of any kind and is totally non-invasive. The therapy is also personalized for a patient’s specific vision loss and is updated month-to-month. Since this solution is Internet based, their therapy can be completed from the comfort of the patient’s home, with a caretaker, at work, or even while traveling, and on their schedule.
In relation to the therapy’s cost, NovaVision provides VRT in a therapy suite with NeuroEyeCoach at a total cost of $900. This provides six months of VRT-therapy and the complete 36 sessions of NeuroEyeCoach therapy, a complimentary program targeted at making the most of a patient’s remaining vision.
Exploring VRT is truly making an investment in your vision and your overall quality of life. You can find more detailed information about both therapies on our NovaVision website if you or a loved one has any outstanding questions about the merits of this theraputic solution.
