Neuro-Optometry: Restoring Vision, Balance, and Quality of Life in North Edmonton & Sherwood Park
Have You Had a Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury?
Do you experience blurry or double vision? Have difficulties maintaining attention, reading, driving or using a computer?
A variety of vision problems may develop following a traumatic brain injury (including concussion) and stroke. Fortunately, a neuro optometrist can treat these and other vision problems caused by the events below:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Because more areas of the brain are used to process vision than any other system, traumatic brain injuries often result in vision problems. In fact, studies show that 90% of TBI patients experience some form of vision disruption, which is caused by interrupted communication between the eyes and the brain.
Mild Brain Injury (MTBI) - Concussions
Though considered mild, a concussion is still a brain injury that can cause ongoing debilitating symptoms and alter the normal function of one’s brain.
The most affected demographic are children and teens, and of those, more than 60% experience visual symptoms. Older people are also prone to concussions. If you or a family member has sustained a concussion or even whiplash — such as from a violent blow to the head — we strongly urge you to get your eyes examined as soon as possible.
Stroke
A stroke (also called a cerebrovascular accident, or CVA) occurs when there's a sudden interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain, or a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells. The ocular changes associated with stroke can be categorized as sensory (visual acuity and visual field), motor (extraocular muscle motility) and perceptual.
To learn more or to obtain treatment, contact Village Eye Centre Sherwood Park for a neuro-optometry consultation today.
Headaches and Your Visual System
Pinpointing the cause of a headache can be difficult because headaches are a symptom of a multitude of conditions, rather than a disease itself. What many don’t know is that headaches, including migraines, can actually be rooted in visual dysfunction, especially following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke. If you suffer from sporadic headaches or migraines, make an appointment with us to rule out visual dysfunction as the cause or contributing factor.
Is Your Vision Causing Headaches and Migraines?
There are several types of visual deficiencies that can lead to headaches or migraines. One of the most common types is binocular visual disorder. A binocular vision problem refers to a misalignment of the eyes and can result from a stroke or TBI. When the eyes struggle to function together, they may become strained and overworked in an effort to correct the problem.
Convergence insufficiency and accommodative dysfunction are both well-studied forms of binocular dysfunction and can cause or exacerbate symptoms of both common headaches and migraines.
The only way to properly determine whether these or other vision issues are at the root of a common headache or migraine is to have us assess your condition with a complete functional vision evaluation.
By assessing your vision with a functional vision evaluation, we can narrow down the cause of the headaches and determine if vision could be amplifying your pain, even if it isn’t directly causing it. Once the diagnosis is confirmed and a visual problem is detected, we will create a custom neuro-optometric rehabilitation program to strengthen your visual system and correct the problem.
Start your journey to recovery and call to schedule your appointment today.
The Intersection of Neurology and Optometry
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy is a customized treatment program for patients whose stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussion, neurological condition or disease has resulted in visual deficits. It applies the latest methods and treatments of neuro-plasticity and vision function to help patients develop or regain the essential visual skills necessary for learning and optimal daily function.
An undiagnosed vision condition, or one resulting from a traumatic brain injury or neurological disease, can result in the following problems:
- Double-vision
- Blurred vision
- Eye-teaming and eye-tracking problems
- Visual field loss
- Extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Eye focusing problems
As part of an interdisciplinary approach, neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy targets the underlying cause of the symptoms listed above.
If you or a loved one is suffering from neurological disease, trauma or conditions, visit Dr. Brennan Nelson for a comprehensive eye exam and neuro-optometric solutions.
We’re Currently Enrolling New Patients!
Call us or request to book a functional vision assessment at Village Eye Centre Sherwood Park today. We look forward to helping you or your family member achieve full visual function, which can lead to increased success, confidence and a higher quality of life.
Vision-Related Motion Sickness
Motion sickness refers to that woozy sensation one gets when traveling by car, boat, plane, or while riding on roller coasters and ferris wheels. It occurs when the body’s motion receptors send conflicting messages to the brain. For instance, some people experience nausea or other uncomfortable symptoms when reading from a book (or screen) while riding in a moving vehicle. This is because the eyes are focused on a still object — the words on a page — while the motion receptors in the inner ear sense motion. These conflicting messages are what contribute to the feeling of motion sickness.
Someone with visual dysfunction may experience motion sickness due to the inaccurate visual information being processed by the brain. This mismatch of visual input with cues from the vestibular system (the system in charge of keeping your balance) causes you to experience vision-related motion sickness.
Common symptoms of vision-related motion sickness may include:
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Disorientation
- Trouble maintaining balance
Those who suffer from motion sickness often find it difficult or impossible to drive, play sports, go on amusement park rides, or be in an environment with fast or moderate motion.
Fortunately, a neuro-optometrist can offer help. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of motion sickness, contact Village Eye Centre to schedule a functional visual evaluation.
What Others Are Saying About Us
Learn More About Neuro Optometry | FAQ
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Therapy is very effective in resolving a range of vision problems resulting from brain injuries and neurological disorders.
The highly trained North Edmonton-based Dr. Brennan Nelson will diagnose issues with eye-teaming, focusing, and visual tracking, and prescribe the most effective neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy program so that you can live your best life!
