August 13, 2024

Blurred Vision And Headaches ? What?s the Connection

Everyone gets headaches. Most of the time they?re mild and go away before you know it. But sometimes they hit you like a ton of bricks and cause your vision to become blurry. Cluster headaches…
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Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy

Blurred Vision And Headaches 640?350Everyone gets headaches. Most of the time they?re mild and go away before you know it. But sometimes they hit you like a ton of bricks and cause your vision to become blurry.

Cluster headaches and migraines are notorious for producing temporary changes in vision during an episode.

But did you know that visual problems can cause headaches and migraines or make them worse?

At Opto-mization NeuroVisual Performance in Victoria, we offer relief to patients who suffer from vision-related headaches and other visual problems related to neurological issues.

Can Visual Problems Cause Headaches?

Absolutely! Headaches can result from an untreated visual problem or underlying eye condition.

One of the most common causes of vision-related headaches is eye strain. Struggling to maintain focus or overworking your eyes in any capacity can bring on a splitting headache.

Symptoms of eye strain include blurry vision, dry eyes, eye fatigue, head pain behind and around the eyes, light sensitivity and irritated eyes.

Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) is a leading cause of eye strain. It results from the eyes? physical misalignment, harming their ability to work in unison.

Here?s why.

A person’s two eyes move and focus as a team when their visual system is healthy, allowing them to see clearly and comfortably. If their eyes are even slightly misaligned, the eyes send 2 different images to the brain. The brain struggles to combine these two distinct images and responds by trying to force the eyes to work together. This results in eye strain, headaches, eye fatigue, double vision and/or blurred vision.

Problems with visual skills are another underlying cause of headaches. Our eyes rely on 17 key visual skills to function properly. A neuro-optometrist is trained to identify which visual skills may be underdeveloped and strengthen the weaker visual skills with neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy.

After spending time in front of a digital screen or studying for an exam, you may experience headaches or blurry vision. These symptoms could indicate a problem with your visual skills, including convergence, pursuits, depth perception, and peripheral vision.

Headaches are also very common after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) like a concussion, or after surviving a stroke. These conditions can cause mild to severe changes in the visual system, often leading to persistent headaches, blurred vision and other challenges that make daily life difficult.

Other vision problems that can lead to headaches include:

  • Farsightedness/presbyopia
  • Nearsightedness
  • Astigmatism
  • Ocular ischemic syndrome
  • Closed-angle glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Corneal infection or disease
  • Herpes zoster (shingles)
  • Eye inflammation

Fortunately, treating the medical condition or correcting the vision problem can often improve or resolve headaches.

How Can a Neuro-Optometrist Help?

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy can be viewed as a gym for your visual system, where the eyes and brain learn to work together.

Through repeating and mastering several personalized visual exercises and possibly the use of prisms or therapeutic lenses, your eye-brain connection will be stronger than ever ? and your headaches and blurred vision will likely improve.

Neuro-Optometry in Victoria

If you suffer from chronic or occasional headaches, we can help. To schedule your functional visual evaluation with our neuro-optometric team, contact Opto-mization NeuroVisual Performance in Victoria today.

Our practice serves patients from Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia and surrounding communities.

Frequently Asked Questions with Scott Irvine, O.D.

Q: How can you tell if your headache is vision-related?

A: The best way to determine whether your headaches are rooted in visual dysfunction is to ask your eye doctor for a functional vision evaluation. During this comprehensive assessment, your neuro-optometrist will evaluate your visual and ocular health, and test several key visual skills. In the event that a visual deficit is identified, we may recommend a neuro-optometric rehabilitation program tailored to the patient’s needs.

Q: Which visual problems can neuro-optometric rehabilitation treat?

A: Neuro-optometry can effectively treat a wide range of visual disorders and deficits, including binocular vision dysfunction, double vision, eye strain, convergence insufficiency, strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), visual field loss, visual neglect, tracking and scanning difficulties, and focusing problems. A person can be born with these conditions or result from a concussion or other type of head injury, an eye injury, tumor or a stroke.

If you or a loved one are experiencing visual symptoms after a stroke or a head injury, do not hesitate to contact us.

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Our Victoria Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
200-775 Topaz Ave
Victoria, BC V8T 4Z7
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Our Nanaimo Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
205-1825 Bowen Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
Phone
(250) 591-0270
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
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  • Wednesday:
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You Ask, We'll Answer

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  • What is Neuro-Optometry?

    Neuro-Optometry focuses on the intricate connection between your visual system and the brain, extending beyond traditional eye care to assess functional vision. This branch of optometry examines how your eyes track, move, coordinate, and how your brain processes depth, motion, and balance. Disruptions in these functions can lead to a range of issues including headaches, migraines, dizziness, balance challenges, post-concussion symptoms, reading difficulties, and attention deficits (ADHD). By exploring these functional areas, we also identify opportunities to enhance performance in activities such as sports, reading speed, and cognitive processes.

  • What is Vision Therapy?

    At Opto-Mization, vision therapy is a specialized, personalized program aimed at improving visual skills and abilities. It goes beyond traditional vision therapy to help improve how the eyes and brain work together, addressing visual-motor and perceptual-cognitive challenges to enhance overall visual function. It’s more than just exercises; it’s a pathway to better vision and improved daily life.

  • Do you Provide Regular Eye Exams and General Optometric Services?

    Yes, alongside vision therapy and neuro-optometry, we offer comprehensive eye exams and general optometry services. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough eye exams to evaluate overall eye health, identify any eye conditions or diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses when beneficial.

  • Who is the Ideal Candidate for Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometry?

    Vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help individuals of all ages. Whether you’re struggling with visual processing issues, binocular vision disorders, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), or have sustained a brain injury, our services might be beneficial for you. Contact us to discuss if our tailored approach can meet your specific needs and goals.

  • Do I Need a Referral to See an Optometrist at Opto-Mization?

    No, you do not need a referral for an eye exam at Opto-Mization. We welcome anyone who suspects they might benefit from our services, whether you’re experiencing symptoms of visual discomfort or just want to ensure optimal visual performance. Feel free to reach out and schedule your appointment directly with us to take the first step toward understanding and improving your visual function.

  • Do You Direct Bill Insurance?

    Yes, we offer direct billing for a variety of insurance plans to make the process as seamless and hassle-free as possible for our patients. Our knowledgeable staff is well-versed in working with insurance providers, ensuring that you can maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for our services, including vision therapy and eye exams.