NovaVision

Decatur Memorial Hospital’s rehabilitation services includes a new vision restoration therapy. DMH offers this service in partnership with NovaVision VRT™ and is the only Illinois health care organization, outside the Chicago area, to offer this therapy.

VRT (Vision Restoration Therapy) is a non-invasive vision therapy performed in the comfort of your home on an FDA-cleared medical device that targets the areas where visual function has been impaired or lost due to a stroke or brain injury. This program can be used to restore vision no matter how long ago the brain injury occurred.

VRT is the first FDA-cleared clinical application of rehabilitation for vision loss. It works by activating the brain’s proven self-repair capability—called neuroplasticity—to enhance residual vision and produce vision improvement.

Currently, rehabilitation focuses on helping patients adapt to their visual problems, but our partnership with Novavision enables DMH to offer the latest advances in visual mapping to help patients actually improve their vision.

Patients who qualify for the therapy program spend approximately one-hour each day (two 30-minute sessions), six days each week, using a computer program customized for their specific vision deficit. The data from each session is analyzed monthly and updated programs are sent to the patient based on their progress. Patients are re-evaluated after 6—7 months.

A recent study of VRT patients after treatment showed measurable improvements in their vision that enhanced their quality of life. Nearly 1.5 million stroke and brain injury victims in the country suffer from major visual field deficits and the number is increasing.

Daily life improvements may include—reading, walking/mobility, confidence/independence and hobbies/watching TV.

NovaVision VRT is not covered by Medicare or insurance, but it is currently being reviewed for approval.

For more information, call DMH Rehabilitation Services at 217-876-2600.

Hemianopia—decreased or lost vision in one-half of the visual field

Quadrantanopia—decreased or lost vision in one-quarter of the visual field

Scotoma—Island-like blind spot

Diffuse Field Defect—scattered areas of decreased or lost vision in one or both eyes

Back to Rehab Services