Stroke survivors are being left with needless visual impairments following a stroke

Over half of stroke survivors have visual problems following a stroke, yet many go untreated despite simple treatments being available which can improve and even cure many visual problems.

The Stroke Association will today call for all stroke patients to have a visual assessment from an eye specialist.

The call will be made at the UK Stroke Forum's inaugural conference. The conference, which is hosted by The Stroke Association, will bring together researchers and over 1000 healthcare professionals from all disciplines in the field of stroke to share ideas, new research and expertise.

Deputy Head Orthoptist Sonia MacDiarmid from the British and Irish Orthoptic Society will be presenting the evidence at the conference. She explains: "The effects of visual impairment on stroke survivors can be significant and can have damaging effects for the patient, carers and medical, nursing and therapeutic staff. It can limit the quality of life for the patient because all aspects of self care can potentially be affected such as preparing meals, walking independently and reading or watching television. It can restrict opportunities for leisure pursuits or access to public services and can also increase depression which is a common symptom of stroke. Yet many of these problems can be treated or reduced by seeing an orthoptist or other eye specialists. In my experience just 25% of stroke survivors currently get referred."

Around 60% of stroke survivors have some sort of visual dysfunction following a stroke. The most common condition is 'homonymous hemianopia' (loss of half a person's visual field) which occurs in 30% of all stroke survivors. However this can be helped by an orthoptist putting prisms onto glasses. Similarly, prisms can also be also be used as a treatment for double vision (diplopia) which can occur after a stroke and can be extremely debilitating for patients if left untreated. Advising patients on compensatory strategies to overcome their visual field loss is also an important part of treatment.

Visual inattention is another eyesight problem following a stroke. This occurs when patients ignore everything in one half of their visual world. The majority of patients with visual inattention are symptom free and often deny they have any visual problem which causes issues with their rehabilitation and safety as well as a longer period of hospitalisation. Referral to an orthoptist means a patient can be treated by scanning and reading techniques and these techniques can also be integrated into the rehabilitation programme by occupational therapists. Many patients are registered as sight impaired and referred to the local sensory impairment team who are able to help individuals once they have been discharged from hospital.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive at The Stroke Association comments:

"Stroke currently costs the economy £7 billion a year made up of direct care costs, lost productivity and informal care costs. Supporting stroke survivors to regain independence and play an active role in society could reduce these costs.

"This evidence shows the significance of a referral to an eye specialist as part of a successful rehabilitation following a stroke. More action must be taken by hospitals and local authorities to ensure that the resources are available and managed effectively to provide all stroke survivors with visual assessments and an informed care plan as a result."

ENDS
For further information please contact the media team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1528 or email the Press Office

Notes to editor

1. An orthoptist is specifically trained to look at disorders of vision, binocular vision and ocular motility and can assess stroke patients' whilst in hospital and treat or advise patients on complications of vision and eye movements.

2. The UK Stroke Forum is a coalition of over 20 organisations and the Forum's flagship event, the UK Stroke Forum conference will be taking place on the 7th/8th December.

3. The aim of the UK Stroke Forum is to provide a number of opportunities for healthcare professionals to come together and hear about the latest developments in stroke research and care.

4. Each year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

5. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

6.A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

7. With thanks to our sponsors Sanofi-Aventis/Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Genzyme.

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