Vision Problems Caused by Traumatic Brain Injuries

Published on

February 14, 2022

Vision problems are often not the first thing people think of when they talk about traumatic brain injuries. Studies suggest that more than 2 million people in the United States who suffer traumatic brain injuries each year suffer from some sort of vision problem as a result. Traumatic brain injuries are very often accompanied by visual deficits. According to the CDC there are over 170,000 sports related TBI injuries in children per year.
A TBI is caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head as a result of rapid acceleration, deceleration, or impact. A concussion is one kind of TBI that is normally classified as a mild TBI.

What kind of vision problems are caused by traumatic brain injuries?

Some of the commonly known vision problems are discussed below.

Accommodative disorder is a problem with focusing, particularly at near. There isn't so much a problem with eyesight as keeping a comfortable, accurate focus, particularly when working up close.
Focusing ability is a crucial part of eye teaming, so a person with poor eye teaming may suffer from a condition such as convergence insufficiency.
Those with traumatic brain injury may suffer from ocular motor deficits, such as losing their place when reading, skipping words or lines, or repeating words or lines.
People with traumatic brain injury may experience visual field deficits, which are less common. An individual with visual field deficit may have a missing area of vision, or they could have hemianopsia, in which they're missing the entire visual field on the left or the entire field on the right.
People with traumatic brain injuries may suffer from visual neglect, which is now commonly referred to as visual spatial attention. In other words, the brain overlooks the visual area on one side or the other.
Midline shifts can be difficult for someone who has sustained traumatic brain injury. This is where a person’s physical midline and their visual midline are no longer aligned.
An individual with traumatic brain injury may have difficulty with peripheral motion sensitivity, which can cause problems such as flicker sensitivity and glare. They may be unable to go to crowded places like stores or may have difficulty driving down the road with all the busy cars around them.

Who should patients consult regarding vision issues following a traumatic brain injury?

An optometrist specializing in traumatic brain injuries can help you if you are experiencing vision problems following an injury. For these conditions, neuro-optometrists are qualified to provide treatment.

What sort of treatment do neuro-optometrists offer?

Neuro optometrists treat patients by retraining their brain-eye connection, so that they can regain the functionality and quality of life they had prior to their injury. The treatment programs are highly customized, depending on the patient's situation and needs. Your neuro-optometrist can recommend other therapy/treatment strategies if exercises or other similar treatment methods are not sufficient to correct your vision problem.

Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!