Dizziness and Balance Problems Related to Vision
Impaired Vision and Maintaining Balance
Maintaining balance is a complex process that is controlled by three different systems in the body:
The vestibular system is mainly located in the inner ear and is responsible for providing the brain with information about head position, spatial orientation, and motion
The visual system provides input from your eyes to your brain, and is the dominant system providing cues for maintaining balance and preventing dizziness
Proprioceptors in the legs and feet provide the body with a stable platform as well as information on movement and motion
How Can Impaired Vision Cause Dizziness and A Balance Disorder?
If you’ve experienced sea or motion sickness, the common advice is to close your eyes. Doing this removes the impact of the visual system, and can alleviate nausea and dizziness. Any disruption in the eye-brain connection or the visual system can result in dizziness and balance problems.
Dizziness and Vision
When the eyes and inner ear are saying different things, a sensory mismatch occurs, causing dizziness. This can be caused by inner-ear (vestibular) conditions, vision conditions, or a mix of both. If a person has a vestibular condition like BPPV, Meniere’s, or a vestibular neuritis, their visual system will need to help compensate. Problems with depth perception or binocular vision (how the eyes work together) may become more apparent as the brain becomes more dependent on vision. Our proven 3-step approach has allowed us to help thousands of patients.
We are so confident in our approach we have a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee:
- Determine any problematic areas of binocular vision or depth perception that are contributing to symptoms or preventing recovery. If applicable:
- Improve these areas of function with lenses specially prescribed to improve depth perception, balance, and dizziness.
- Use vision therapy to recalibrate how the vision and vestibular systems work together.
Balance Problems and Vision
People suffering from a balance disorder can be stationary but feel as though they’re moving. Additionally, they may find it difficult to walk straight, especially after being in a sitting or reclining position and suddenly standing up.
Vision problems can make it challenging to maintain proper balance. When someone has troubled vision, and the eye muscles work harder to compensate for the decreased visual clarity, eyestrain, headaches, and balance disorders can occur. It can also cause problems with depth and spatial perception, which affects balance and equilibrium. Many vision problems can cause the same symptoms as vestibular problems. After a vestibular problem, a person may also become more sensitive to any binocular vision dysfunction (eye teaming problem) that is present. This is because their brain becomes more reliant on their vision to help compensate for the vestibular problem.
Treatment for Vision-Related Dizziness and Balance Problems
Dizziness and balance problems often go hand in hand, and if a visual problem is at the root, a neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapist can offer help.
When Should You Seek Treatment?
It’s important to be evaluated by a neuro-optometrist as early as possible following even a minor brain injury. The sooner treatment begins, the greater the likelihood of success. That said, there is still hope for patients who suffer from symptoms caused by a head injury that occurred months or even years prior; we can still assess your situation and develop a course of treatment to help you recover now.
Comprehensive Treatment for Dizziness & Balance Problems
For most patients, these symptoms are temporary. However, understanding the potential for these issues is important when discussing lens options with your optometrist.
Dizziness and balance issues that stem from visual problems can be significantly mitigated through our dual-faceted treatment approach.
Whether you’ve experienced a recent brain injury or have lingering symptoms from past trauma, it’s crucial to seek evaluation from a neuro-optometrist promptly. Early intervention maximizes the potential for recovery, but even long-standing conditions can find relief with our tailored treatment strategies.
What Is Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Therapy?
Experiencing dizziness and balance issues related to vision can be unsettling. If you’re struggling with these symptoms, seeking professional advice is crucial. At Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy, our team is ready to assist you in identifying and treating the visual causes of your dizziness and balance problems, ensuring optimal visual health and comfort.
Our customized treatment plan utilizes various techniques and exercises aimed at enhancing visual perception and processing, strengthening the crucial connection between the eye and the brain. To support this, we also integrate the use of specialized glasses and lenses tailored to improve depth perception and spatial awareness, addressing how the visual and vestibular systems interact.
Our approach to vision care encompasses both neuro-optometric rehabilitation and vision therapy. These terms are often used interchangeably and refer to our personalized program of therapy sessions designed to develop, refine, or restore visual skills.
Following diagnosis, a customized treatment plan is crafted. This may include the application of specialized lenses such as the neuro-lens to enhance visual function and vestibular therapy to address balance. Vestibular therapy, a specialized form of visual therapy, works to recalibrate balance and alleviate dizziness.
Vestibular therapy is a special type of physical therapy aimed at restoring correct balance to provide relief for symptoms of dizziness.
How We Can Help
If you or a loved one is experiencing any symptoms of double vision, dizziness or feeling off-balance, contact us for a consultation. Even if you’ve been told that your symptoms are stress-related, seasonal, or will fade on their own, having a functional visual evaluation can help rule out vision as the root cause or contributing factor to your symptoms.
It’s also important to note that not every optometrist is trained in this specialized field. Only a neuro-optometrist should assess and treat a post-TBI patient with neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
No two patients are alike — if you’ve seen one head injury, you’ve seen one head injury. Each person experiences a unique degree of dizziness, balance issues, or vision problems. Some patients may require just a few weeks of treatment, while others may need something more long-term. The good news is that the improvements achieved by neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy are generally long-lasting.