Hi I suffered a stroke in 2023 which weakened my left hand side and left me with mobility issues, needing a stick to move around. Last week I suffered a second stroke which has damaged my occipital lobe and also my field of vision in both eyes. I have lost the lower left hand quadrant and I am just trying to process the news having left hospital yesterday. I am really worried about always struggling to read the printed page as reading books is my great pleasure. I am also worried about working having battled to get back to work after my first stroke. If anyone has another advice re eyesight loss post stroke, I would be really garteful.
I don’t have anything I can suggest, other than to say that hopefully having been through the first stroke, this time round there may be “fewer surprises” and perhaps easier to accept and understand what is happening and what you can do to help yourself.
I note you have been discharged from hospital and hope the team gave you some good information and advice on what you should do next.
You’ve done it once and I am sure you can do it again Stay strong
I expect other members will soon pop by and give you some useful advice rather than my moral support
@Rocky1 oh what rotten luck. Sorry to hear about your occipital lobe stroke. I had an occipital lobe stroke but it affected my vision differently.
Have you been referred to ophthalmology? If not ask for a referral. Look up some apps to help regain some visual field. It has bren discussed on here before so have a search around ans see what you can find.
Have copied in one below that might help.
I think @Rups may have previously recommended some vision apps too. Sorry if I have got that wrong.
Give yourself time before you start to worry about work. There are adaptations that can be made when the time is right.
hi @Rocky1 so sorry to hear about this and after getting back to work too. Being lucky and having no eyesight issues all i could say was give it time there is a time for recovery then as suggested see an opthamolmist for advice and guidance. Best wishes and good luck.
Indeed, this kind of stroke requires dedicated visual rehabilitation and as @Mrs5K mentioned, a visit to an ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist, even better. I have posted some vision rehabilitation apps, like the Eye Training Tool. It is free and neuroscience based.
Hi thank you so for your response and the link, which is really helpful. I am hoping for some support and am waiting for the hospital to contact me. Thank so much again.
Hi thank you for your message and I am hoping there is a degree of neuroplasticity that might kick and hopefully some professional help. It’s a struggle.
Hi thank you so much for taking the time to write to me and this is very helpful. I was at the ophthalmology department of the hospital on Monday and I asked for a referral to a neuro ophthalmologist and I am hoping this will happen. Unfortunately, I have been discharged with the assurance things will happen and they don’t even with repeated chase ups. Anyway, it might all be good. Thanks for the information and link, it is really useful. Thanks again.
I am sorry you have had this double whammy. I have never managed to get hold of the person in this role ( number out of date, holiday period etc) but there is somebody called an ECLO in some health authority areas, and they are a Liaison Officer that in theory helps you if you are diagnosed with some sight impairment. THE RNIB put on some courses that are helpful and that is how I learned about ECLOs.
Hi thank you so much for replying to my post. Yes, it has been frustrating after my first stroke when the consultant said I would be referred to a cardiologist and neurologist, as well as physio, non of which happened despite contacting the hospital and my GP. But the ECLO sounds like a good option and is very useful advice and so thank you
Sorry I was a bit slow yesterday , I had a check up at my opticians- she just happens to be consultant opthamologist as well which was the best thing i done as scanned my optic nerves which apparently were very healthy, she done a visual field test and that was fine, was nerve wracking when she said to me the test is running longer just to check your not just randomly clicking. Turns out it was all good but my optician is one of the good ones.
Just explaining as I do not think I made it clear, an ECLO only deals with sight related issues. And as usual there seems to be regional variation. Not all areas have one. But the eye dept at your hospital should be able to give you the contact number for the nearest one to you. And he or she appear to work within or alongside the health system, so is likely to be able to advise you about getting answers back from people who seem to have put you at the bottom of their waiting lists…And I do agree @Rocky1 with mrs5K , about you needing to allow yourself plenty of time before thinking about going back to work. Everything takes time to heal and rest is really important. I know, easier said tgan done.
Stay strong 
