Concussions are among the most common types of brain injury, and yet their full impact is often underestimated. When most people think of a concussion, the first symptoms that come to mind are headache, dizziness, or temporary confusion. While these are indeed typical signs, research shows that a very high percentage of concussion patients also experience vision problems. These visual challenges can begin right away, or they can appear gradually in the weeks and months that follow.
At Opto-Mization, with clinics located in both Victoria and Nanaimo, we work every day with patients across Vancouver Island who are living with lingering symptoms after a head injury. Many of these individuals have already been told that their eyes are healthy or that they have twenty-twenty vision. Yet they continue to struggle with blurry or double vision, fatigue when reading, or sensitivity to light. The reason for this is that concussions do not simply affect the eyes themselves. Instead, they disrupt the way the eyes and the brain work together as a single system.
Understanding this vital connection is the first step toward a proper recovery. With the right assessment and treatment, patients can regain clarity, comfort, and confidence in their vision.
How a Concussion Changes the Visual System
A concussion occurs when a sudden force or blow causes the brain to move within the skull. This movement can stretch delicate cranial nerves, disturb blood flow, and interrupt communication between different parts of the brain. Because vision is not located in one single place in the brain but relies on many regions working in harmony, even a mild concussion can cause a significant disruption.
The result is often referred to as post trauma vision syndrome. This condition can lead to a wide variety of symptoms that affect day to day life, such as:
- Blurred or double vision
- Headaches/Migraines
- Dizziness/Balance PRoblems
- Sensitivity to light or bright environments
- Screen Sensitivity
- Reduced depth perception, which makes judging distance more difficult
- Losing place when reading or tracking text on a page
- Difficulty with peripheral vision
- A sense that the eyes are not aligned or not working together
These symptoms can be debilitating. Reading may become tiring within minutes, driving can feel unsafe, and workplaces or classrooms can feel overwhelming. For many patients, these issues are compounded by dizziness, headaches, nausea, or increased sensitivity to motion. What may seem like a relatively minor concussion can in fact leave lasting disruptions to vision if the underlying functional skills are not addressed.
Take the first step toward recovery today. Book your functional vision assessment at Opto-Mization in Victoria or Nanaimo and get personalized care for concussion-related vision symptoms.
Why Traditional Eye Exams Often Miss the Problem
One of the most frustrating experiences for patients is being told that their vision is normal when they know something is wrong. A traditional eye exam is designed to measure clarity of sight, such as how well you can read letters on a chart across the room. However, concussion related vision problems rarely affect clarity. Instead, they affect coordination, tracking, depth, and processing.
As a result, many patients may be able to read the chart perfectly but still experience strain, confusion, or fatigue in real life situations. This is why functional vision testing is so important. At Opto-Mization, every comprehensive functional eye exam is designed to look at how the visual system works under real conditions. We assess eye teaming, tracking, depth perception, and visual processing to reveal the hidden problems that standard tests overlook. This allows us to provide treatment that directly addresses the root cause of post concussion vision symptoms.
Measuring Recovery with Vision-Based Testing
At Opto-Mization, we use advanced vision-based assessments such as the King Devick test and RightEye to support both baseline measurement and concussion recovery. These tests evaluate eye movements, tracking ability, and visual processing speed, which are functions often disrupted after a concussion. By completing a baseline assessment before a sports season or other high-risk activity, athletes and students create a clear record of their functional vision when healthy. If a concussion occurs, post-injury results can be compared with the baseline to identify changes, monitor progress, and guide safe return to play or return to learning. This vision-centered approach allows us to design personalized rehabilitation plans that include functional vision therapy and other treatments, ensuring recovery is safe, effective, and complete.
Vision Therapy as a Path to Recovery
When patients experience persistent symptoms after a concussion, one of the most effective treatment options is neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy, often referred to simply as vision therapy. This approach is based on the principle that the brain and eyes can be trained to work together again through structured and individualized exercises.
Vision therapy programs are tailored to each patient’s specific needs. They may include therapeutic or prism lenses to reduce double vision, customized exercises to strengthen visual processing, or filters and light-based therapies to reduce sensitivity. The goal is always the same: to restore comfortable, efficient, and coordinated vision.
At Opto-Mization, therapy is guided by optometrists who have advanced training in neuro-optometry and functional vision care. Many of our patients begin to notice improvements in clarity, stamina, and balance within weeks of beginning therapy. With consistent effort and professional support, these improvements often extend to school performance, work productivity, driving confidence, and overall quality of life.
How Long Do Concussion-Related Vision Problems Last
The duration of visual symptoms after a concussion varies widely. Some people recover within days, while others continue to struggle for months or even years. In many cases, symptoms only become noticeable later, once the patient resumes normal activities. This delay often leads patients to believe that their vision problems are unrelated to the original injury. In reality, the concussion may have disrupted their visual system in ways that were not immediately obvious.
The encouraging news is that improvement is possible even long after the injury. Patients who seek a neuro-optometric evaluation months or years after their concussion can still benefit from treatment. The key is to identify the functional vision problems through specialized testing rather than relying on a basic sight exam alone.
The research shows that the majority of people still struggling with concussion symptoms after several months have problems with how their eyes track or work together.
Why a Team Approach Matters
Concussion recovery is most effective when multiple healthcare providers work together. A family doctor or neurologist may oversee medical aspects of the injury, while physiotherapists or occupational therapists may address balance and physical rehabilitation. The role of the neuro optometrist is to focus on the visual system, which is often a missing piece in the overall recovery plan.
When all of these providers collaborate, patients receive more complete care. Vision therapy becomes one part of a broader strategy that helps individuals return to learning, working, and living with confidence.
Taking the Next Step in Your Recovery
Life after a concussion does not need to be defined by visual strain, dizziness, or discomfort. Whether your goal is to return to sport, succeed in school, or simply feel comfortable reading and driving again, functional vision care can make an important difference.
If you or someone you care about has experienced a concussion and is now struggling with vision symptoms, it is essential to seek an evaluation. At Opto-Mization, our clinics in Victoria and Nanaimo provide comprehensive functional vision exams, baseline testing with King Devick and RightEye, and customized neuro optometric therapy. We are proud to serve patients across Vancouver Island who are ready to move forward with their recovery.
Book your post-concussion vision assessment today and take the next step toward clearer and more comfortable vision.
