Many people don’t understand that sustaining a concussion is a serious matter. A concussion is more than just a knock on the head – it’s an injury to the brain also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). You don’t have to have a loss of consciousness to have a concussion, as is commonly thought. Usually, concussive symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, loss of balance and brain fog get better within a couple of weeks, though they can linger for up to three months.
However, a good percentage of patients – up to 30 percent – experience post-concussive symptoms beyond that three-month time period. What we have discovered is that a significant number of these patients have an uncorrected binocular vision problem that has been caused or made worse by the TBI.
What Is Post-Concussive Syndrome?
Simply put, post-concussive syndrome is a set of symptoms that continue to occur months after a concussion is sustained. Some people are still suffering more than a year later. It is believed that these symptoms are due to a faulty signal being sent to the eyes from the brain, causing the eyes to become misaligned. This misalignment results in double vision symptoms, which is something the brain will not accept. It corrects this problem by forcing the eye muscles to move the eyes back into the correct position. The stress and strain put on these muscles as they do this often results in a headache. It can also cause the muscles, and thus the eyes, to quiver. This sensation of movement directly conflicts with the vestibular system, which senses no movement, and dizziness is the result of this conflict.
Realigning the Eyes
At the Neuro Visual Center of New York, we treat post-concussive syndrome and other binocular vision dysfunctions by adding aligning prismatic lenses to a pair of regular eyeglasses. Proper prismatic correction moves images back to the correct position, which allows the eye muscles to relax. This, in turn, will significantly decrease or even resolve the headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and other symptoms of post-concussive syndrome the patient has been experiencing. Most people experience at least an 80 percent reduction of symptoms at the first office visit.
Get Help From Our Specialists
If you or someone you know has had a concussion in recent months and may be experiencing symptoms of post-concussive syndrome, please take a minute to fill out our questionnaire or call us at (516) 224-4888. The problem may be your eyes, and if it is, we want to help!
I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in 2014 after being t-boned by a drunk driver! I have no memory of the crash! I was airlifted and received 52 stitches on the left side of my head! At first my vision was double…now it is blurry/double only on the left side. I have severe migraines, dizziness and vestibular disorder. My neuro ophthalmologist just told me that my eyes are not aligned! My previous neuro optometrist never mentioned this! I’ve been wearing prism lenses with my contacts and I don’t feel any relief! Will I need surgery to correct this! I’m so disappointed with this news!
Hi Gindy,
You may be wearing the wrong kind of prism lenses. You should see a neuro visual optometrist, we are specially trained to work with aligning prism.
Hello I had a scooter accident 6 months ago and I fell and hit my head. I was knocked out for 3 hours. My balance is much better but my vision is very blurry, and I’m very dizzy. Prior to this incident I’ve suffered with bouts of depression from – well it’s a long story but I got by very well. Since the day of the accident all the symptoms from the depression I had came back but much worse. Especially my vision and very bad cognition. The is the vision problems. I tried therapy at Rusk wasn’t much help. I need glasses to help me. The prism ones I have now aren’t that great. I’m desperate. If I don’t correct this my life is over. Please help me.
We are sorry that you are suffering. Please fill out our questionnaire on our website. https://www.nvcofny.com/.
Someone from our staff will contact you.
All the best
I fell on the slippy ICE and was knocked out, went to the ER they released same day , a few weeks later I woke up feeling the room spinning with me and throwing up, was rushed to the hospital and a neurologist saw me and treated me in the hospital have been home now 2 weeks and when I get tired I still get dizzy and my vision gets blurry. What can I do to get better?
You need to be seen by a concussion specialist and an eye doctor who specializes in head injury.
All the best,
The Neuro Visual Center
I had a concussion Nov. 2020. Only dizziness was laying on the floor doing exercises. Dizziness has returned recently (it’s been 2 weeks) and still persists when getting out of bed and laying on the floor exercising.
Please see your doctor to rule out BPPV.
The Neuro Visual Center
This past month my 85 year old mom gets dizzy just sitting (on and off) not vertigo as movement does not affect it, now dizziness is getting stronger and she feel weak, fatigued. Going to cardiologist to get a halter monitor on incase its her heart(tho no heart probs normally.)
Then, I remembered,mom fell and hit her head on the driveway THREE MONTHS AGO.. big bump on head, but emergency catscan was negative… could it be related even tho time has passed> Thank you. God Bless
Yes it could be related. However getting her cardiovascular and neurological status examined is a good idea.
I had a rock hit my head, and had headaches and a swollen head, which later went down and headache reduce , four months into it, started feeling discomfort at the right side of my head down my eyes , then feeling something like a lump in my throat, tho i can swallow well , the head ache comes and goes. But quick uneasy at the right side of my head
Please consult your doctor about your symptoms.
I hit the left side of my head on a tree. I didnt lose conciousness but i’ve been having head pressure and a stiff neck. I’ve been having the symptoms for three months now. It worsens at night when i sleep
You should see a doctor that deals with concussion.
All the best.