Case Report: Successful resolution of four POTS cases using retinal neuromodulation for non-invasive assessment and treatment of autonomic function

The document is a case report titled "Successful resolution of four POTS cases using retinal neuromodulation for non-invasive assessment and treatment of autonomic function" by Deborah Zelinsky O.D. and Clark Elliott Ph.D. It discusses the use of neuro-optometric techniques in the treatment of Positional Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

Key Points:

POTS Overview: POTS, a form of dysautonomia, presents challenges in cerebrovascular autoregulation. Traditional treatments focus on symptom management without resolving the underlying issue.

Retinal Neuromodulation: The authors propose a novel approach using retinal neuromodulation, where custom-designed eyeglasses alter phototransduction in the retina. This affects neural pathways related to POTS, potentially rebalancing the autonomic and central nervous systems.

Four Case Studies: The paper presents four case studies where patients with POTS experienced significant improvements after using these custom eyeglasses. These patients had symptoms unresponsive to traditional treatments.

Mechanism: The treatment involves stimulating the retina to influence signaling in both the autonomic and central nervous systems. This is based on the understanding that the retina is an extension of the brain and processes both visual and non-image-forming signals.

Neuro-Optometric Testing: Patients underwent neuro-optometric tests to assess their retinal tolerance and determine the appropriate eyeglass prescription. This included various lenses, prisms, and filters to balance incoming signals.

Outcomes: All four patients reported a cessation of syncope episodes and other related symptoms, suggesting a potentially permanent resolution of their condition.

Broader Implications: This approach implies that neuro-optometry can play a crucial role in treating autonomic function disorders and other neurological conditions, moving beyond traditional eyesight-focused optometry.

Conclusion: The authors suggest that measuring tolerance to retinal load is a vital step in managing autonomic function disorders. The case studies demonstrate the potential of neurodevelopmental optometric techniques in diagnosing and treating conditions like POTS.

The report emphasizes the importance of considering the retina's role in neurological conditions and the potential of non-invasive, neuro-optometric interventions in treating disorders traditionally considered intractable.