A concussion is a traumatic brain injury or damage. Headaches, memory loss, imbalance, and coordination issues are only some of the possible short-term side effects. Most cases of concussion are the result of a head injury. Additionally, concussions can be brought on by violently moving the head and upper body.
However, most concussions do not result in unconsciousness. Almost three-quarters of all concussions result from some kind of fall. Playing a contact sport like football or soccer also increases your risk of concussions. After sustaining a concussion, most people make a full recovery.
What are the ocular symptoms from post-concussion, and their treatment?
Post-Concussion Symptoms
Some doctors have referred to their patients’ visual problems as post-traumatic vision syndrome, with symptoms as follows:
- Vision impairment
- Concentration issues
- Reading difficulty
- Sensitivity to light
- Vision impairment in the periphery
- Distortions in visual perception
- Inaccuracies in movement
Concussion symptoms also include:
- Feelings of being lost
- Amnesia
- Feeling faint or “out of it”
Treatment for Post-Concussion
Prism glasses and Patches
Some patients suffering from post-concussion vision issues are given an eyeglass prescription with prism in it. Prism helps patients with double vision by aligning the two images they see together so that they are perceived by the brain as a singular image. Some people cover their eyes with patches.
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy is typically the most effective treatment method. It entails performing specific eye exercises under the guidance of a trained professional in order to improve one’s visual abilities. Vision therapy is beneficial to the eye muscles, some of which may require retraining, as well as the parts of the brain that are responsible for processing visual information.
Most patients who finished vision therapy saw significant improvement of their symptoms, or full recovery. Patients with a known history of concussion should undergo an assessment of their vergence, accommodative, and eye movement functions.
At Lumos Vision Care, we think that having a comprehensive approach is the best way to treat our patients. As such, we offer vision therapy, comprehensive eye exams, and prescription glasses and eyewear. Whatever post-concussion symptoms you may be experiencing, we have several treatment options available.
