When we look out into the world, light enters our eyes and hits specialized nerve cells at the back of the eyes. These cells send signals to parts of the brain which translate the signals into pictures we interpret as the world we are viewing. Some nerve pathways from the eyes cross to the other side of the brain and some don't. What happens is that something we see out of the corner of our right eye is actually being registered in the left brain, and vice versa.

There is an area in the retina of each eye that has no nerve endings; this is the area where the blood vessels enter and leave the eye. No signals go to the brain from there and so we have a spot which is actually blind. The reason we don't realize that we have "blind" spots is that the brain "fills in" the missing signals so that the world view looks complete. But these blind spots can be mapped easily. And they should be the same size and shape on both sides.

If there is a difference, it means that the brain is actually not getting or processing as many signals on the side opposite the larger blind spot. We can use our knowledge of your blind spots in planning our treatment and rehabilitation program. In general, we try to treat and exercise the side of the body on the same side of the larger blind spot. The treatment and exercise has to be very specific and easy enough to stimulate, but not overstimulate, the nervous system. We monitor that by reading the blood pressure and other vital signs, as well as testing other aspects of neurologic and muscular function.