SCOPA 2022: Concussion education for the OD

Jamie Ho, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, neuro-rehabilitation optometrist with subspecialties in low vision and brain injury, speaks with Optometry Times® editor Kassi Jackson, sharing highlights from her presentation, "Concussion for the primary care optometrist," which she presented during this year's South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association's (SCOPA) annual meeting in Hilton Head.

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity:

Jamie Ho, OD, FAAO, FCOVD:

We're going to review some signs and symptoms of general concussion, [because] sometimes the patients will complain to us a lot more than just visual signs.

We're going to learn how to identify visual signs and symptoms, some that are obvious, more visual related; but some that are less obvious, like dizziness and balance problems, because many times people associate that with more vestibular function.

We're going to talk about how to assess for visual deficits. So, the ocular motor, the vestibular [system], eye teaming, eye focusing, and some of the high yield tests that I use clinically, to really tease out concussions.

And this is not meant to be a really deep, comprehensive course; it is meant for primary care optometrists.

So, there are some really short and simple tests that I think are pretty high yield in catching these small signs and symptoms.

Then we're going to talk about rehab work: some of the prescribing work, such as prisms, tints by nasals; and also who else we want to involve in the rehab team so that our patient has the best clinical outcome.