Typical eyeglasses or contacts are designed to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness, which are generally caused by irregularities with the shape of your eyes. At the Neuro Visual Center of New York, we specialize in treating a different type of eye disorder that is caused by a misalignment in the eyes and can be extremely debilitating: binocular vision dysfunction. Our primary treatment method is aligning prismatic lenses, which can be used in eyeglasses or contact lenses, depending on the patient.
What Is BVD?
BVD is caused by a vertical misalignment in your eyes—e.g., one eye is slightly higher than the other, — that compromises the coordination between your eyes. To correct this misalignment, little muscles in your eyes work overtime so you can still see the world around you clearly. Eventually, all the hard work causes these muscles to become strained and fatigued, leading to BVD and associated symptoms like migraines and dizziness.
Put another way, patients with BVD see slightly different pictures in each eye because their eyes are not on the same level. Your body has a natural way of “correcting” this problem so you can still see clearly, but it comes at a price—overworked eye muscles and unpleasant symptoms like headaches, vertigo, balance problems, and more.
How Do Aligning Lenses Work?
Unlike typical eyeglasses or contacts that correct problems with the light-bending process responsible for refractive errors, aligning prismatic lenses work to correct the misalignment in your eyes. They do this by manipulating incoming light before it enters your eyes so that the images you see appear to be on the same plane. This tricks the brain into thinking your eyes are properly aligned, which means your intraocular muscles no longer have to strain to correct the misalignment.
Patients with BVD and related conditions like vertical heterophoria (VH) usually find that their symptoms gradually subside or completely disappear when they wear their prescribed aligning lenses.
Diagnosis and Treatment
At the Neuro Visual Center of New York, Dr. Cheryl Israeloff and the staff will perform a series of specialized tests to determine whether you have BVD. Our primary treatment method for this condition is aligning prismatic lenses, which can be prescribed as eyeglasses or, in some cases, as contacts—though we have found that aligning eyeglasses tend to be more effective.
Before coming to the Neuro Visual Center of New York, many of our patients, unfortunately, struggled for years to obtain an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for their symptoms. That’s because most doctors don’t have the training or equipment to detect BVD.
If you suffer from chronic issues like headaches, migraines, dizziness, trouble focusing, difficulty reading, balance problems, or anxiety, you need to have your eyes checked for BVD. Our innovative aligning lenses can reduce or even eliminate your symptoms, dramatically enhancing your quality of life.
Call us today at (516) 224-4888 to learn more about aligning lenses or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you!
I am pretty sure I have bvd but I live in Pittsburgh. Is there anyone in my area that you can recommend to help me. I am73 and still work and need to be able to drive my car. Thank you
Hi Michael,
Dr. Kathy Collins in Lancaster, PA is the only doctor in your state. You can visit the Vision Specialist of Michigan website to see all the trained doctors in the US.
All the best,
The Neuro Visual Center
Hi Dr. Berger Israeloff
My name is Leslie I have just recently started having all but one of symptoms that started right at 2 months ago and actually blacked out while driving which really scared me. I’ve actually had family driving me because I’m a lil scared or drive yet.
Since that Incident the migraines and blurred vision dizziness ect have gotten a lot worse.
I got back to the eye specialist in November they said to do a test to ck behind my eyes, I think they are looking more for neurological issues.
Is there something else’s I need to ask them to test to ck for BVD? I worry maybe they haven’t dealt with it much.
Thanks I’m advance for any help you can give me.
Hi Leslie
Our evaluation takes over an hour and half, so there are many tests that we do. Dizziness while driving is usually a visual problem in our experience. If you are too far to travel to see us, please seek out someone who can test how your eyes are working together and how they are functioning when you shift your focus.
All the best,
The Neuro Visual Center
I have the same situation. Did you find a Dr.
What happens when someone has severe myopia AND vertical heterophoria? How can both be corrected?
Both the power correction for the myopia and prismatic correction is put in the lens. We do this all the time.
I have been struggling with binocular diplopia (along with poor balance, head pressure, limited driving ability, and tiredness) for about two years. I’m currently wearing prism glasses, but the double vision seems to have “learned” to bypass the prism. I live in the middle of nowhere in TN, but have an appointment at Vanderbilt Vision Center in May. It’s 3 hours from my home. I can’t drive there, there is no Uber, no taxi, no bus, no train, no nothing. It leaves me depending on favors. I just want to have this resolved. Do you know of anyone in TN who would work with me on figuring this out? Thanks!
I am sorry, I do not have a source for referral in tennessee.
All the best.
I have struggled with Vision problems, vertigo, balance problems, terrible headaches. Is there anyone in the Atlanta area that you know of that can help? I have been to every kind of doctor and and many test run and they all say nothing is wrong.
Please visit the Vision Specialist of Michigan website to find a doctor closest to you.
All the best
Is BVD associated with depersonalization?
Sometimes a person with BVD will also have depersonalization.