Concussions and other head injuries are common, especially for athletes. If these injuries are not properly addressed and treated, you may have lasting effects, including vision problems that doctors may overlook.
Savedoff, Ciccone & Davis, Doctors of Optometry, P.C., provides vision therapy for patients experiencing vision impairment after a concussion. We also offer comprehensive vision services to patients at our locations in Manlius and Syracuse, NY. Here, our team discusses the important role vision therapy plays in concussion treatment.
Your brain and eyes are in constant communication with each other. A concussion or other traumatic brain injury can disrupt this connection and communication, leading to multiple vision-related issues. One common issue is called post-trauma vision syndrome (PTVS), which results in several symptoms that affect vision, including:
Other symptoms can include difficulty reading, trouble using the computer, dizziness or nausea, headaches and migraines, and light sensitivity. If you experience any of these symptoms after a concussion, non-invasive vision therapy may provide some relief.
Vision therapy is a rehabilitative treatment that works to address and correct visual deficits that affect everyday life. By working with one of our knowledgeable doctors, you can see improvement in the following visual skills:
Vision therapy involves a series of exercises and non-surgical activities that enhance communication between your brain and eyes. It is an effective treatment for double vision, eye fatigue, cross eyes, and other eye problems that affect reading, balance, and movement. You can have 20/20 vision and still struggle with daily activities if your brain and eyes are not communicating effectively. Vision therapy works to improve this disconnect, so you can thrive in school, work, and sports.
Vision problems after a concussion usually subside after six weeks. However, some concussions can damage the optic nerve, resulting in damage that lasts longer. If you’re experiencing vision problems after a brain injury, they are a result of a communication issue between the brain and the vision system. Fortunately, vision therapy can help.
Vision therapy exercises help strengthen visual skills and the muscles that make up the vision system. This therapy targets the eye muscles and areas of the brain that process visual information. By doing so, vision therapy can help your brain relearn how to process information from your eyes, eliminating visual symptoms and restoring normal function.
At Savedoff, Ciccone & Davis, Doctors of Optometry, P.C., we take an in-depth approach to neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation or vision therapy. We want to thoroughly understand your eye health and the cause of your vision problems so we can provide proper care. We use state-of-the-art medical equipment and instruments to give you the best quality of care, so we can ensure your needs are met. When you come to us for vision therapy following a concussion, we offer treatment in two stages:
First, we perform a full optical exam. This in-depth evaluation analyzes communication between your eyes and brain. We determine how your concussion has impacted your ability to carry out daily tasks, such as reading, balancing, and moving. Additionally, we determine your ability to focus on and track objects, while also determining whether your eyes can work together effectively.
Once we finish our comprehensive exam, we create a personalized vision therapy regimen. This detailed plan is designed to help your brain and eyes redevelop communication and cooperation, improving vision and visual processing. You’ll work with our staff in our office, as well as on your own at home, to do practice exercises that improve your depth perception, movement tracking, and other visual skills. If we suspect damage to your ocular nerve, we may also recommend contact lenses to help improve your overall vision.
If you’ve experienced a concussion and are now living with vision-related symptoms and difficulties, you may benefit from vision therapy. The doctors at Savedoff, Ciccone & Davis, Doctors of Optometry, P.C. offer compassionate care to patients in Manlius and Syracuse, NY. Our highly skilled team addresses concussion-related and other vision-related concerns through comprehensive eyecare services.
Our doctors also work as consultants for the Upstate University Hospital Concussion Clinic and the Syracuse University Sports Medicine Department. Contact us today to learn more about our vision services or our post-concussion therapy.
