The University of Liverpool’s Professor Fiona Rowe has led the development of a major new international clinical guideline addressing visual impairment in stroke survivors.
Released by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), the guideline is one of four newly published ESO guidelines aimed at improving post-stroke care across Europe and globally.
Visual impairment affects approximately 75% of stroke survivors, yet controversy exists on how best to screen for it, the timing at which to screen, and on the optimal management of the varying types of visual impairment. The new ESO guideline provides comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians in the screening, assessment, and management of vision problems after stroke.
Professor Fiona Rowe said: “I co-chaired and led this Vision Guideline from inception to completion. This represents significant work on producing a European international guideline to promote the diagnosis and management of visual problems occurring after stroke. Such problems are highly prevalent, so it’s crucial to ensure their detection and that appropriate care plans are in place for each patient. We provide recommendations and expert consensus statements for stroke vision care, along with key considerations for future research.”
The guideline recommends:
• Screening tools: Recommendations on validated methods for detecting visual impairment.
• Optimal timing: Guidance on when screening and assessment should be conducted for optimal outcomes.
• Management strategies: Evidence-based approaches to treating a wide range of post-stroke visual impairments, including visual field loss, eye movement disorders, and visual perceptual difficulties.
This guideline is part of a broader effort by ESO to enhance stroke care through updated clinical guidance. All four new ESO guidelines are detailed here.
Full details on the visual guideline are available here.