Interesting article

I know I haven't blogged in a while...things have been very hectic but when I find an interesting article I will post it....so here is an interesting article on Visual Attention:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090325132326.htm#

Enjoy

Vision and Sensory Processing disorders

So many people tell me that they don't realize that people on the Autistic Spectrum have vision problems outside the realm of the typical nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. But the fact is, many on the spectrum have difficulty with visual spatial and visual processing difficulties. These may be the sole visual problem or can be combined with the typical vision problems mentioned above. This week I have decided to post a video that I did about a year ago on a website called Autsimspot.com. I hope the verbal explanation given in this video will help you understand the type of visual processing problems seen in this population. I have five other videos on the autism spot website...feel free to peruse them as well. Lastly, there are many other videos on this website that are exceptional...so have at it...watch as many as you can...it is truly an terrific website. Here is the link:
http://www.autismspot.com/videos/Sensory-Processing-Disorders-and-role-vision

Enjoy,

Charles Shidlofsky, O.D.
www.dr-s.net
Follow me on twitter: CShidlofskyOD

Great websites to learn more about Neuro-Vision

I frequently get asked by patients for some good web resources that talk about the work I do.
So, I will list a few great websites that I really enjoy and truly explain some of the work I do and a brief description of each site:

www.autismspot.com This website has tons of useful information on autism spectrum disorders and lots of videos of parents and providers who can help. I have 5 or 6 videos uploaded on their therapies section...so please go check this out.

www.sharp-sighted.org This website I recently discovered talks about the visual processing system from the viewpoint of dyslexia. However, there is some great scientific information on this sight about vision and perception and includes the latest and greatest information.

www.nora.cc This is the website for Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Assn. There is a ton of information for the doctor and patient on this emerging area of vision care. I have gone to their meetings the last five years and will be going again in March.

www.covd.org College of Optometrists in Vision Development This site discusses vision care for children who have a variety of vision problems from a developmental point of view. There is a lot of great patient information here.

And last but not least: my website www.dr-s.net has a lot of great links to other sites that have wonderful information about vision and vision processing.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Case of the week 1-17-2009

I always seem to have a multitude of interesting cases from week to week, but one in particular this week seemed to stand out. Perhaps the reason it stood out is because it involved someone who I have known for a while who plays a I sport that I really do enjoy, both as a player and spectator.

This particular patient has been playing ice hockey most of his life. I got to know his father in one of the leagues he and I played in about 10 years ago. Shortly thereafter the whole family came to see me as patients mostly for routine care. The son and the patient in this case went from High School hockey to Juniors up in Canada and then last year played Juniors right here in the Dallas area. He played well enough to earn a college scholarship to play hockey this year. Unfortunately, over the last year he has sustained numerous concussions and was deemed unable to play. He then enrolled at University of Oklahoma and was playing club hockey there when he got a few more concussions.

When he came in for his routine annual exam this week, he was telling me about his hockey misfortune over the last year. I asked him if he has noticed anything different in his memory skills and visual skills since the concussions. He said, in fact, he has noticed many differences. He is far more sensitive to light, he was deemed mildly dyslexic at school this year (which has never been a problem for him) and he had trouble focusing from the board to his work. He also held his books and near point work closer to his eyes. This certainly raised the red flag in my mind.

During my testing, I noticed reduced focuing ability, abnormal convergence skills and some tracking difficulties. All these finding had previously been normal when tested. I brought him back in and did some electo-diagnostic tests looking at the whole sensory system: from visual; to vestibular; to proprioceptive and their ability to integrate. We also did a neuro-cognitive test for memory skills. What we saw on the results was quite astonishing for an athlete. Most skills were significantly reduced from normal.

I prescribed therapeutic lenses and occlusion therapy for this patient and I will report on his results when he comes back in. I am optimistic though, that we will make a significant impact on his skills. I feel that his diagnosis of mild dyslexia is probably a mis-diagnosis but instead he was suffering from Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome. For more information on Post-trauma Vision Syndrome you can refer to the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Assn. website: www.nora.cc .

Hope everyone had a great week.
Charles Shidlofsky, O.D.

Opening Comments

My New Years resolution this year was to create a blog to disseminate information about how the eyes and the brain work together to bring us our visual sensory world. I feel like this will be great information for my patients, those interested in the neuro field or associated fields and really anyone in general who want to know more about how the eyes and brain work together and then further integrate with the other sensory systems.

I will try to post at least once a month something topical and relevent. I may also post articles of interest. This certainly will be a work in progress.

Warmest regards,
Charles Shidlofsky, O.D.
Neuro-Optometry
Plano, Texas