A Case Report of a Patient with Visual Disorder After Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarction Improved by Korean Medicine Treatment Combined with Temporomandibular Joint Balancing Therapy

Background: Visual disorders commonly occur after posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarction. Evidence for Korean medicine interventions remains limited. This case report describes visual improvement following Korean medicine treatment incorporating temporomandibular joint balancing therapy (TBT).Case presentation: A 72-year-old man presented 21 days after right PCA infarction with blurred vision, left visual field defect (narrowed to ~30°), dizziness, intermittent diplopia, nausea, tinnitus, and gait instability. Initial treatment with acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine for seven days showed minimal improvement. TBT initiated on Day 7 produced immediate partial visual recovery. TBT was continued for 59 sessions alongside Korean medicine therapies.Results: Visual field expanded from approximately 30° to 80°. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores decreased from 5 to 1.5 for visual disturbance and from 6 to 1.5 for dizziness. Functional outcomes improved: the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index increased from 96 to 100 and the modified Rankin Scale decreased from 2 to 1. Dizziness resolved, nausea subsided, and gait stability improved. These improvements were maintained through August 2025 without adverse events.Conclusion: Korean medicine incorporating TBT may be associated with improvement in visual disorders following PCA infarction, particularly in patients with limited initial treatment response. Prospective observational studies are warranted to further characterize clinical response patterns.