Brain Injury and Concussion

Up to 40% of individuals with brain injuries, including concussions, strokes, or trauma, experience persistent vision problems. These symptoms, which may not seem directly related to vision, significantly impact daily life. Common complaints include headaches, light sensitivity, blurred or double vision, dizziness, eye strain, difficulty reading, motion sickness, and trouble with depth perception or crowded spaces.

After a brain injury, even mild, the visual system’s complexity means disruptions can occur in areas like eye teaming, focusing, and visual processing. These impairments often lead to poor concentration, delayed processing, and a lack of confidence in navigating environments. Many patients struggle with reading due to losing their place, taking longer to process text, or being unable to remember what they’ve read.

Visual symptoms often stem from conditions such as:

• Binocular dysfunction: Eyes failing to work together efficiently.

• Accommodative dysfunction: Difficulty focusing or sustaining focus.

• Oculomotor dysfunction: Impaired eye tracking or alignment.

• Visual midline shift: Misjudgment of spatial orientation.

• Visual-vestibular integration issues: Challenges combining visual and balance systems.

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These deficits can cause headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, reducing quality of life.

Vision rehabilitation re-trains the visual system to restore efficient functioning. Treatments include:

• Performance lenses: Near or prism lenses alleviate strain by supporting focusing and eye alignment.

• Tinted lenses: Reduce light sensitivity and visual stress.

• Syntonic light therapy: Balances the autonomic nervous system using specific light wavelengths.

• Vision therapy: A customized program of exercises and activities to improve eye teaming, tracking, and processing.

• Eye focusing: Improves clarity and reduces strain for reading and driving.

• Eye teaming: Aligns eyes to prevent double vision and improve depth perception.

• Visual perception: Enhances skills like visual memory, discrimination, and spatial awareness.

• Eye tracking: Develops smooth and accurate movements for reading and scanning.

A functional vision evaluation is essential to identify the root causes of symptoms and develop a tailored treatment plan. With neuro-optometric care, individuals can regain confidence, improve daily functioning, and achieve long-awaited relief from vision-related challenges. Call us today to schedule an evaluation and start your journey toward recovery.