Brain Injury following auto accident

Case Study: Brain Injury Following Auto Accident

This case report details the recovery of a 61-year-old female patient who sustained a brain injury following an automobile accident. The trauma resulted in an injury to the left parietal area of the brain, leading to left-side neglect. Prior to the accident, the patient was in excellent health; however, the injury resulted in a loss of the left inferior visual field, reduced vision in the right eye, photophobia (light sensitivity), extreme fatigue, and chronic headaches.

Furthermore, the patient presented with visual midline shift syndrome. This condition occurs when an individual’s egocentric center – their internal perception of the body's midline – shifts horizontally or vertically due to neurological injury. This shift significantly impacts posture and balance. Additionally, the patient exhibited suppression of binocular vision, where the brain effectively "shuts off" the right eye to manage visual input.

Previous Interventions

Prior to commencing coMra therapy, the patient underwent 13 sessions of vision therapy over a three-month period. While this resulted in improved visual acuity and better eye coordination, it did not address the defects in her visual fields. The patient reported feeling somewhat better, but the primary neurological deficits remained. No medications were utilized in this case.

The coMra Therapy Protocol

The patient underwent 13 coMra therapy treatments over a seven-week period. The treatment plan utilized a modified Neurology 3 protocol. Additionally, the specific location of the hemorrhage was treated for five minutes at 50 Hz. The coMra Delta 905 nm laser device was used for all sessions.

Results and Clinical Outcomes

Following the seven-week course of coMra therapy, the patient experienced significant improvements:

* Visual Acuity: The right eye improved from 20/60 to 20/40, and the left eye reached 20/20 vision. * Symptom Relief: Chronic headaches ceased, and the visual midline shift was notably reduced. * Visual Fields: Before treatment, testing revealed defects in five out of 16 areas in the right eye and four out of 16 in the left eye. Post-treatment, the right eye showed defects in only two areas, and the left eye showed no remaining defects. * Functional Improvement: The patient reported improved peripheral vision, depth perception, and balance. She noted that whereas she previously could only see half of a person's face, she was now able to see the faces of her family members clearly. Her overall mobility and ability to walk improved significantly.

Acknowledgments

This case report highlights the potential of coMra therapy in supporting neurological recovery. A special thank you is extended to Dr. Larry Wallace, a behavioral optometrist who has been an integral part of the College of Syntonic Optometry for over 40 years. Dr. Wallace and the College are dedicated to research and education in the field of light and color therapy. As a certified low-vision specialist, Dr. Wallace has worked extensively in visual rehabilitation for head trauma and brain injury. He is also the patent holder of the first microcurrent device used to treat retinal disease and continues to travel globally to educate others on the applications of syntonic phototherapy.