By Michael Grace-Dacosta
A pioneering investigation that is looking at the effectiveness of oculomotor rehabilitation therapy for adults who are challenged with the symptoms of concussion is now underway at UHN’s KITE Research Institute. Led by PhD candidate Melisa Biscardi, a scientific trainee at the Institute, it’s the first of its kind in this area.
Who will participate?
During the study, “Oculomotor Rehabilitation After Concussion in Adults”, (ORCA) the researchers will be conducting a randomized controlled trial or RCA to test the effectiveness of treatments and or interventions. Recruiting for participants who have experienced visual symptoms 30 days or more following concussion will be done at Toronto based Hull-Ellis Concussion and Research Clinic.
Background
Researchers will be keen to explore ways that this type of visual therapy can improve how the eyes, the window to the brain. Eye movements use over 40% of the brain’s machinery and we have 100,000 eye movements each day. It’s not surprising that these actions can be disrupted following a concussion, resulting in symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness or headaches when reading”, Biscardi suggests.
Testing two groups
Over the course of the study some people will receive standard concussion care which includes ways to limit stimulating activities such as TV and movie watching, as well as video games and other screen-based activities. Others will receive oculomotor rehab using a virtual reality headset and instruction on how to do home based eye movement exercises.
Biscardi claims that participant’s homework will involve tracking moving objects, focusing on targets at different distances as well as performing rapid shifts in gaze direction in order to retain impaired eye movements while improving speed, accuracy and endurance.
Gender considerations
Importantly, the team will be focusing on sex and gender equality considerations which will lead to a better understanding of the possibility of differences between men and women who participate in oculomotor rehab sessions and their outcomes.
This drill down is in response to the team’s systematic review of documentation showing research didn’t recognize gender differences despite the fact that revealed that women are more likely to suffer more persistent post-concussion symptoms than men. The KITE team believes that this absence in oculomotor rehab research has let to incomplete under-standing of the role this type of visual therapy can play in treatment.
Expected outcomes
Biscardi knows there has also been a feisty conversation in the scientific community about the effectiveness of ocular rehabilitation. Her ORCS study plans to move science forward one way or the other.
