Are you prone to tilting your head when reading, working on the computer or watching TV? Do you often experience pain in your neck or shoulders? While these complaints may seem like they would be best addressed by a chiropractor, the pain and soreness could actually be caused by a condition known as vertical heterophoria, a binocular vision disorder caused by a misalignment of the eyes.
Vertical Heterophoria & Head Tilt
In order for your eyes to focus and work together correctly, they must be aligned perfectly. If either eye is off even the slightest amount, the resulting strain on the eye muscles can lead to vertical heterophoria (VH). This misalignment prevents the two images seen by the eyes from coalescing into one image. The brain then tries to correct the problem by forcing the eyes back into alignment and, as a consequence, the eye muscles become strained and sore over time. Many times, patients with VH will tilt their head in an effort to correct double vision symptoms, though often they don’t even realize what they’re doing or why. Such was the experience for D.V., a patient of Dr. Cheryl Israeloff here at the Neuro Visual Center of New York:
‘How Dr. Cheryl Changed My Life’
“For years, I have suffered from migraines and more recently severe neck pain. Dr. Cheryl took one look at me and knew what was wrong. She explained that my neck pain was due to tilting my head to compensate for my vision deficits. Tilting my head was a way to stabilize my vision but it was taxing my body. She asked me a variety of questions, which ranged from when I experience pain to how I feel in crowds. I would have never known that all of my anxieties in crowded places and my inability to walk in a straight line were all related to my eye condition. During my exam, she had me try on a variety of prism lenses and instantly I felt a difference. The benefits of my prism lenses continued to improve days after my visit. My head was straight for the first time in years, my migraines went away and my neck pain dissipated as I continued to wear my lenses. I am so incredibly grateful to Dr. Cheryl and how she helped my vision and changed my life.”
Learn More With a Neurovisual Exam
Anxiety, difficulty reading, balance issues, dizziness – each of these are symptoms of VH, and each can have a huge impact on your sense of well-being and quality of life. If you suffer from one or more of these symptoms and feel that you may need eye strain treatment, call the Neuro Visual Center of New York today at (516) 224-4888 to schedule your neurovisual exam and get fitted for your very own aligning prismatic lenses.
