Automated Assessment of Visual Photosensitivity in Traumatic Brain Injury
Abstract
It is estimated that up to 19% of United States Veterans may have traumatic brain injury (TBI), with over 260,000 OIF/OEF Veterans diagnosed with the condition. TBI can impart devastating lifelong consequences. Photophobia, or extreme sensitivity to light, is one of the most distressing as its occurrence results in high morbidity without effective treatment. Individuals most severely affected become prisoners in their own homes due to intolerance to even small amounts of light. Even in less severe cases, most individuals have significant functional limitations and often require sunglasses indoors and outdoors. There are currently no technologies available that can easily and reliably quantify photophobia. This lack of technology limits our ability to gauge the epidemiology of photophobia, define the severity of the condition, assess its functional impact, and monitor effects of therapy. With regard to the latter, there are few therapeutic options for individuals with photophobia, beyond the use of tinted lenses. The presence of a technology that can quantify visual light sensitivity will thus also strengthen the design of clinical trials that aim to test therapeutic options.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2010820
Entities
People
- Anat Galor
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Miami