Managing Dizziness and Blurry Vision After a Brain Injury

Each year in the United States, about 2.8 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and many come out the other side with a wide range of side effects.

While each journey is unique, some side effects are more common than others after a TBI, including dizziness, balance issues, and blurry vision, all of which fall under our area of expertise — neuro-optometry.

So, if you’re dealing with ongoing dizziness and vision issues after a concussion/TBI, here’s how our experienced team of neuro-optometrists here at DeyeNAMICS can help.

Behind the Vision and Balance Issues

Let’s first take a look at what we’re up against if you’re experiencing post-TBI dizziness or blurry vision, both of which are characteristics of  Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome (PTVS).

In essence, PTVS occurs when there’s an imbalance between two key components of your visual system — peripheral (spatial) vision and central (detail) vision. Different areas in your brain control both, but they’re in constant communication to help you see, move through, and interpret the world.

If your TBI has compromised the connection between your spatial and detail visual processes, it can lead to any number of different symptoms, which include:

• Blurry vision (constant or fluctuating)
• Double vision (constant or occasional)
• Sensitivity to light (indoor, outdoor, or both)
• Eye-tracking issues
• Problems with depth perception
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Balance issues
• Difficulty with reading (including re-reading or issues with recall)
• Trailing vision
• Pain/pressure in or around one or both eyes

Some TBI patients also experience Visual Midline Shift Syndrome. This makes it difficult to figure out where you are in space, which can also influence symptoms of dizziness.

Finding Balance and Clarity After a TBI

If what we described above sounds familiar, we want you to know that we offer some effective options for re-establishing equilibrium and vision by way of neuro-optometric rehabilitation, including:

Prescriptive Lenses

This is a broad category that encompasses many optical management strategies for acquired vision issues after a concussion/TBI. Some of the tools we use as part of neuro-optometric rehabilitation include prism lenses, tints, and prescriptive lenses to bring more clarity and balance to your visual system.

Vision Therapy

We might also use eye-tracking exercises to re-train your eyes and visual processing. This type of therapy allows our team of doctors to individualize specific exercises around the individual and target specific complaints.

Neuro-Visual Postural Therapy

To address balance issues and dizziness, we might turn to Neuro-Visual Postural Therapy (NVPT), which can restore the connection between your visual centers and postural and balance systems within your body to help provide your spatial vision with appropriate support. For a more detailed description of NVPT, please check out this recent blog.

Balance Exercises

Another way we can help you regain your balance after a TBI is to work specifically on balance exercises. These are often done in conjunction with other professions including physical and occupational therapy and can be integrated with specific visual exercises.

Find the Right Path Forward for Your Recovery

As you can see, we have plenty of options to help manage post-TBI symptoms that affect your vision and/or balance. Simply bring your patience and commitment, and we’ll work together to help you recover.

For expert care of TBI vision and balance issues, contact us at one of our offices in Sacramento, Bellflower, or Valencia, California; Guildford, Connecticut; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or Plano, Texas, to set up a consultation.