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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The current study began following an extensive pilot project of some 115 outpatients who completed a vision screen within the the Palo Alto Polytrauma Network Site (PNS) clinic. The pilot data suggested that binocular dysfunction was present in an unexpectedly high percentage of these patients. The current study was undertaken to expand upon these initial findings and to refine the vision screening protocol.
OBJECTIVE(S):
The project has two main objectives. The first is to refine the vision screening protocol developed at Palo Alto by adding a second PNS screening clinic (Tucson) to gain added patient information and clinical experience. The second objective was to determine if the rates of binocular dysfunction seen in the Palo Alto pilot study were unique to that population or whether the results could be replicated at another site.
METHODS:
The current study is a prospective clinical research trial. Patients are consented in accordance with current VA research and human subject policies prior to their participation. The project attempts to see all patients scheduled for screening in the Palo Alto and Tucson PNS clinics, up to a maximum of 100 subjects. The basic vision screening method has been previously described (Lew, H. L., Poole, J., Vanderploeg, R., Goodrich, G., Dekelboum, S., Guillory, S. B., et al. (2007). Program Development and Defining Characteristics of Returning Military in a VA Polytrauma Network Site. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 44(7), 1027-1034), however modifications have been made as warranted by additional experience at the two sites. The screening methodology has now been standardized.
FINDINGS/RESULTS:
No results at this time.
IMPACT:
Traumatic brain injuries appear to be common injuries associated with deployment of service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Preliminary results suggest that vision loss and visual dysfunction are prevalent in patients of Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers. Additional preliminary data of PNS out patients suggests that while vision loss is not common, visual dysfunctions occur at unexpectedly high rates. The current study will develop a vision screen protocol that can be used in a wide variety of settings and provide point specific information on the extent of visual dysfunction in two PNS populations.
PUBLICATIONS:
None at this time.
DRA:
Military and Environmental Exposures, Sensory Disorders and Loss
DRE:
Rehabilitation
Keywords:
Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom
MeSH Terms:
none
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