Vision Diagnoses Are Common After Concussion in Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of vision diagnoses after concussion in adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional study from July 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014, of patients aged 11 to 17 years with concussion evaluated in a comprehensive concussion program.

Results: A total of 100 adolescents were examined, with a mean age of 14.5 years. Overall, 69% had one or more of the following vision diagnoses: accommodative disorders (51%), convergence insufficiency (49%), and saccadic dysfunction (29%). In all, 46% of patients had more than one vision diagnosis.

Conclusions: A high prevalence of vision diagnoses (accommodative, binocular convergence, and saccadic eye movement disorders) was found in this sample of adolescents with concussion, with some manifesting more than one vision diagnosis. These data indicate that a comprehensive visual examination may be helpful in the evaluation of a subset of adolescents with concussion. Academic accommodations for students with concussion returning to the classroom setting should account for these vision diagnoses.

Keywords: concussion; convergence insufficiency; mild traumatic brain injury.