Brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), concussions, and strokes, can have a profound effect on vision and overall quality of life. Many patients experience blurred vision, double vision, dizziness, and difficulty focusing after sustaining a brain injury.
However, because these symptoms may not be immediately linked to the injury, they often go undiagnosed and untreated.
Vision Source Specialists offers neuro-optometric rehabilitation, a cutting-edge approach that helps retrain the brain and restore visual function.
If you struggle with vision problems after a concussion, stroke, or head injury, we are here to provide personalized solutions to improve daily function and enhance recovery.
How Brain Injuries Disrupt Vision
Vision is more than just what we see—it is a complex system that integrates eye movement, brain processing, and balance coordination. A brain injury can disrupt communication between the eyes and the brain, leading to ongoing visual challenges that affect mobility, reading, and even basic tasks like walking through a busy environment.
Common types of brain injuries that impact vision include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Caused by a blow or jolt to the head, often resulting in visual processing difficulties and eye coordination issues.
- Concussions: A mild form of TBI that can still lead to significant vision problems, such as light sensitivity, motion sickness, and trouble focusing.
- Stroke: May cause vision loss, reduced peripheral vision, or difficulties with depth perception and balance.
Because these symptoms may develop gradually, patients may not realize their vision has been affected until they begin experiencing persistent discomfort.
Common Vision Problems After a Brain Injury
Many people assume that head injuries only affect memory or motor function, but vision is often one of the most impacted systems. Patients recovering from TBIs, concussions, or strokes commonly report:
- Blurred or Double Vision – Difficulty focusing on objects, words running together while reading, or seeing multiple images at once.
- Eye Strain & Headaches – Pain or fatigue around the eyes due to overcompensation by the brain.
- Light Sensitivity (Photophobia) – Discomfort in bright light or difficulty tolerating fluorescent lighting.
- Balance & Motion Sensitivity – Dizziness or vertigo, especially in crowded areas or while scrolling on a digital screen.
- Difficulty with Eye Tracking & Focusing – Trouble following moving objects, reading, or shifting focus between near and far distances.
If these symptoms persist, they can interfere with work, daily activities, and quality of life, making neuro-optometric rehabilitation a crucial part of recovery.
How Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Helps
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is a specialized field of optometry designed to restore communication between the eyes and brain. Using customized vision therapy, specialized lenses, and therapeutic exercises, this treatment can help patients:
- Improve eye coordination and reduce double vision
- Enhance focus and tracking skills to restore reading ability
- Reduce dizziness and motion sensitivity for better balance
- Rebuild depth perception and spatial awareness to prevent falls
- Alleviate headaches and eye strain for increased comfort
Each treatment plan is customized to the patient's needs, ensuring targeted therapy for their specific visual deficits.
When to Seek Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation
If you or someone you know has suffered a concussion, stroke, or brain injury and is experiencing persistent vision issues, it's important to seek professional care. You should schedule a neuro-optometric evaluation if you notice:
- Difficulty reading, driving, or using digital screens
- Frequent headaches, dizziness, or visual fatigue
- Unsteady balance or motion sensitivity
- Blurred or double vision that wasn’t present before the injury
The sooner vision rehabilitation begins, the better the recovery outcomes.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery
Vision problems following a brain injury should not be ignored—they can significantly affect your daily life, independence, and recovery process.
At Vision Source Specialists, we are committed to helping you regain comfortable, functional vision through specialized neuro-optometric rehabilitation.
Book your neuro-optometric evaluation in Rapid City with us.