Your Guide to Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome

Most people are familiar with the term post traumatic stress syndrome and the effects it can have on a person. However, there is another term that is important to understand and that is post traumatic vision syndrome (PTVS). With almost 3 million traumatic brain injuries occuring every year in the United States, and with the numbers on the rise, it is important to understand these issues. Especially given that approximately ninety percent of traumatic brain injuries result in some sort of vision issue.

Call Us

111-222-3333

Your Guide to Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome in PRIMARYCITY

Find out if you need to see an optometrist by taking the Double Vision Quiz

What is it?

Post traumatic vision syndrome is the result of damage to the portions of the brain involved in the vision system. This damage causes disruptions in the function of that system, damage to the important link between the eye and the brain. Due to the nature of this damage, it is more likely than other brain damage suffered as a result of trauma to be missed during initial treatment. Post traumatic vision syndrome in particular encompases specific problems such as oculomotor dysfunction, binocular dysfunction, egocentric visual midline shift, among others.

Types of traumatic brain injuries which may lead to vision problems include falls, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, physical violence, and strokes. Even brain injuries which most people might not consider “traumatic” or relatively minor, like a concussion, have a high chance of causing a vision problem.

What Symptoms Might I Experience From Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome?

There are a wide range of vision issues you might notice if you are suffering from post traumatic vision syndrome. These include:

Blurry vision: This can be due to damage to the eyes themselves or their ability to effectively relay received information to the brain.

Double vision: If the eyes are not working together, you may start seeing what each eye sees individually (as opposed to the brain properly combining the two images), leading to double vision.

Light or glare sensitivity: If the vision system is damaged, the brain-eye connection may have reduced ability to process incoming stimuli, leading to increased sensitivity in situations where there is more light.

Headaches: The headaches caused by PTVS are often associated with things like screens, reading, and any other environment with high levels of visual stimuli.

What Symptoms Might I Experience From Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome?

Eye strain or fatigue: If the vision system is not functioning properly, there will be more effort required in order to see, which causes eye strain and fatigue. Eye pain is also a possible symptom.

Difficulty reading: Problems with eye tracking and their ability to work together properly can make reading at all difficult, both in terms of simply seeing and processing what is on the page, and also regarding how much effort it takes (which can lead to fatigue.) PTVS can also lead to decreased reading comprehension, as the brain is not able to properly process the information received via the eyes (even if the eyes are working fine on their own.

Dizziness or vertigo: The vision system plays an important part in the body’s ability to properly coordinate movement and maintain balance. PTVS can cause the vision system to feed useless information into the process, which impedes function and leads to a lack of balance. If other damage from the injury is also hampering the eyes’ ability to focus, it can exacerbate this problem.

In a broader sense, post traumatic vision syndrome can impact one or more areas of vision function, hampering your ability to not only see clearly, but focus on and comprehend things you see.

How is Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome Treated?

Post traumatic vision syndrome can be treated through neuro-optometric rehabilitation. Treatment may also include specialized prescription lenses, prism lenses, along with neuro-rehabilitation therapy or vision therapy.

What is the Treatment Process?

The first step will be taking a comprehensive eye exam, which (unlike typical vision tests) will examine the health of the entire vision system. If you suspect you are dealing with post traumatic vision syndrome, you can mention it to the doctor and they will know to focus on those areas of the exam. Following the exam and diagnosis, your eye care professional will formulate a personalized treatment plan for your unique situation.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

Length of treatment will vary on a case-by-case basis, and can range from just a few weeks to over a year. Also depending on the severity of the injuries, the degree of success in correcting the problem can vary as well.

Summary

Post traumatic vision syndrome is the term used to refer to vision problems sustained following traumatic brain injuries. This can include a wide variety of symptoms, and while they might not be too severe at first, if not treated, these problems can become much worse over time and become harder to correct. Neuro optometric rehabilitation is an effective treatment option. If you suspect you are suffering from vision problems stemming from a traumatic brain injury, contact us to Book an Appointment .

Learn More

Binasal Occlusion: Understanding Its Application and Benefits

Binasal occlusion is a technique used in neuro-optometric rehabilitation to reduce strain on the visual system, which can improve your gait and balance.

Vision Problems from Lyme Disease: How lyme disease can affect your vision and what a neuro-optometrist can do to help.

Lyme disease can cause a wide range of visual symptoms such as double vision and loss of vision, neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help to improve vision.

Uncontrolled eye movements: how nystagmus can affect your vision and how a neuro-optometrist can help

At our optometry clinic, we specialize in the diagnosis and management of Nystagmus, a condition that causes involuntary eye movements.

1 2 3 … 9 Next »

Testimonials

22222

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Ilan 2

1111111

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Ilan

Blog

23fd6b60 Ad7d 11eb Abba 8f029dbfa5ce Shutterstock 1255404055

Discover effective treatment options for diabetic retinopathy; consult our eye care professionals to protect your vision and overall well-being

June 3, 2023

Treating diabetic retinopathy Treating diabetic retinopathy is a critical aspect of preserving vision and maintaining the overall quality of life for patients suffering from diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina – the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. According to the National […]

Picture Focused Serious Young Caucasian Female Teacher With Textbook Taking Off Glasses Narrowing Eyes Trying See Something Clearly Student Girl Eyewear Posing With Diary

Understanding Foggy vision

May 21, 2023

Is foggy vision troubling you? Let our experienced optometrist restore your sight – book an appointment today and see the difference! The term foggy vision often refers to a visual disturbance characterized by blurred, cloudy, or hazy vision, which can make seeing clearly challenging. As your local optometrist, we recognize the significance of maintaining optimal […]

Vision Therapy for Nystagmus: Improving Visual Function and Quality of Life

May 15, 2023

According to the National Eye Institute, nystagmus affects approximately 0.24% of the general population in the United States. This means a whopping 720,000 individuals in the US face the challenges of nystagmus. How does Nystagmus Impact Vision? Nystagmus(/neuro/uncontrolled-eye-movements-how-nystagmus-can-affect-your-vision-and-how-a-neuro-optometrist-can-help/) is a condition that affects the eyes, causing involuntary and rapid movements that can make it difficult […]

see all blogs