What are the symptoms of Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome?

·       Difficulty Converging the eyes (print moves, jumps, dances, swims)

·       Double vision

·       Blurry vision with near work (Difficulty focusing, need more time to focus, blinking to get things clear)

·       Poor concentration or attention

·       Less frequent blinking (staring & dry eye problems)

·       Asthenopia (eye strain, headaches, fatigue with near work)

·       Unstable peripheral Vision (clumsiness, bumping into things, poor awareness of where things are)

·       Objects appear to move

·       Unstable peripheral vision.

Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome (PTVS) explained:

Insults to the brain produced by traumatic brain injury, cause stress in the the connections of the brain. The stress and disruption frequently takes place in the mid-brain, an intersection of many brain function, where vision, movement and visual interpretation meet. As a result, many different systems are affected simultaneously.

These symptoms of PTVS are sometimes diagnosed as individual eye and muscle imbalances. But vision is a system that is interconnected with other functions in the brain so a head injury frequently results in a disruption of multiple interconnected processes. 

What can we do?

PTVS has a major impact on vision, thinking and movement and as a result, rehabilitation should take place sooner rather than later. Each patient receives treatment for PTVS that is specific to their individual needs and their deficits as a result of the injuries. Treatment involves lenses and prisms, with or without occlusion as well as other rehabilitative techniques.