Concussion and Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that interferes with communication processes in the brain. It’s not uncommon for someone to experience a concussion after a car accident, a fall, or even from playing contact sports.

When the injury is severe enough, post-trauma vision syndrome can develop. Read on as a Washington, DC eye vision therapy optometrist talks about the effects of concussion and post-trauma vision syndrome and how neuro-vision rehabilitation therapy can help.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion happens when the brain and the inside of the skull collide. This can be the result of:

A bump to the head
A blow to the head
A jolt to the head or body that shakes the head

When the impact is strong enough, it can interfere with the complex connections between the eyes and the brain, causing vision problems. And while your ability to see clearly can be affected, other critical aspects of vision that regulate eye-brain communications, perception, balance, and coordination may also be impacted by a concussion.

What Is Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome?

Communications between your brain and your eyes regulate 80 percent of all sensory processing in the body. Post-trauma vision syndrome occurs when something disrupts the brain’s visual system.

For many people, the words “vision and visual processing” brings to mind things like 20/20 vision, vision clarity, or how clearly your eyes can see. While problems with visual clarity can be a symptom of post-trauma vision syndrome, functional vision problems occur in up to 80 percent of people who experience trauma.

Unfortunately, standard vision examinations aren’t designed to detect functional vision problems and many people recovering from a concussion don’t receive treatment for this aspect of vision until long after a diagnosis of post-trauma vision syndrome has been made.

Here are just a few ways functional vision issues can disrupt your daily life:

Problems with balance and coordination
Frequent headaches
Double vision
Problems with focus and concentration
Feelings of depression and/or anxiety
Blurry vision
Light sensitivity
Memory problems
Motion sensitivity

Granted, not all post-concussion symptoms are visual, problems with the brain’s visual system are common for people who’ve experienced traumatic brain injury.

Neuro-Vision Rehabilitation and How It Can Help

Neuro-vision rehabilitation focuses specifically on visual disorders caused by brain injuries or any condition that interferes with the brain’s visual system. The treatment involves in-depth testing that analyzes communications between your brain and your eyes and how your ability to carry out everyday tasks has been affected.

From there, a customized vision therapy program that addresses your individual treatment needs is developed and implemented. The overall goal of neuro-vision rehabilitation works to redevelop brain-eye communication processes.

If you have more questions or wish to schedule a consultation, please feel free to call our Washington, DC eye vision therapy office today.