Is Your Child Suffering Academically and Socially Due to Headaches?

The most satisfying part about specializing in neurovisual disorders is having the opportunity to help those who feel helpless, who’ve lost hope that anyone will ever be able to help them and have resigned themselves to a life of pain and discomfort. Being able to tell someone like this that I can help them is an incredible feeling. In this regard, I would like to share a wonderful testimonial that I just received from a young patient. These stories are why I enjoy this work so much!

An Off-Balance Life

“When I was younger, I never had headaches, but my balance felt off, I felt crooked. Then I started to get headaches at the end of the last school year. We went to a lot of doctors until my pediatrician said to go to the eye doctor. I was suffering academically and socially because the headaches got worse and they were constant. They rarely let up. The morning was the worst, I woke up nauseous every morning. This went on for about 3 months. Then I went to Dr. Israeloff. We never thought it was my eyes because my eye sight was always fine!”

“What a wonderful surprise to find out there is a name (Vertical Heterophoria) and a cure – a pair of prism glasses. No more headaches. I see better in general. My hand eye coordination improved. I don’t feel sick anymore. The glasses are great – I love my new look.”

Understanding Vertical Heterophoria

Vertical heterophoria is a type of binocular vision disorder that arises when the eyes are out of position. Even the smallest misalignment of the eyes can lead to the eye muscles being strained and overworked as the brain struggles to get everything realigned. This is what caused the headaches that the patient described in her testimonial, though headaches are by no means the only symptoms. Dizziness is also common, and either symptom can be brought on from things as simple as standing up to too quickly, moving your head back and forth, driving on a curvy road or even riding in the passenger’s seat of a car.

All too often, patients like this young lady suffer for years with no help in sight because many doctors aren’t trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of a binocular vision dysfunction, and end up misdiagnosing the patients as having migraine disorder, vertigo or an inner ear disorder. Fortunately for my patient, a discerning doctor sent her in the right direction, and I had the privilege of giving her the help she needed.

Get the Help Your Child Needs

At the Neuro Visual Center of New York, we make it our mission to assist those suffering from binocular vision disorders in getting their life back and returning to 100% functionality. If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of VH, call us at (516) 224-4888 to find out if a pair of aligning prismatic lenses may be the answer to your (eye-related) problems.

Testimonials

Prior to being treated by Dr. Cheryl, I constantly felt off balance. I had suffered from frequent migraines since I was 12 years old. I often suffered from neck/ back pain, and always felt like I was straining my neck and/or tilting my head to focus on the computer. My family had always noticed that I walked a bit sideways as well, but they attributed that to me being "clumsy". I had awful anxiety about walking down flights of stairs or through the mall, as I always had this irrational fear of falling. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression, as I would tend to avoid social situations where I felt uncomfortable or not in control. At my annual eye exam, Dr. Cheryl asked how my migraines had been. I casually mentioned that I was having dizzy spells and felt off balance. As Dr. Cheryl went through a series of questions, it seemed like she was reading off a script of my symptoms. She started to explain binocular vision dysfunction and asked if I would consider a neuro visual test that may be able to determine if I was a candidate for the type of treatment she was involved in. I was skeptical, but desperate. The tests administered by Dr. Cheryl produced black and white, concrete results. I was blown away by how clear it was that this "visual vertigo" I was experiencing was not only completely legitimate, but treatable. My skepticism disappeared immediately when Dr. Cheryl had me wear a trial pair of glasses with prisms in them. I felt taller, grounded, and completely in control. My glasses have made a tremendous difference in my everyday life. I feel balanced and aware of my surroundings. I no longer catch myself tilting my head while reading through pages of documents on my computer, or tilting my head to get a better view of the TV. It is more than a change in my prescription or a "clearer view," it is an entire perspective change. I have not had a single migraine in 6 months - I am still in shock when I say those words. My dizzy spells have subsided, as well. When I am not wearing my glasses, which is rare, I can immediately feel the difference in my equilibrium. I would never have guessed that all of these symptoms and subsequent issues, were vision related. Dr. Cheryl was 100% supportive and genuinely concerned about my comfort and progress throughout this whole journey. I would, without hesitation, recommend her to anyone that suffers from these symptoms. She is a true life saver and is passionate about investing her time and energy into this growing field.

A. S.

Comments

Molly Rogers says

May 18, 2017 at 9:48 pm

I have a lot of those symptoms, accept my headaches aren’t as bad as you describe them. Also, I’ve been seeing double ever since I was young, so I’m a little concerned about my eye health. I don’t want any contacts or surgery, what should I do?
- Cheryl Berger Israeloff says
  
  May 19, 2017 at 3:03 pm
  
  Hi Molly, Every person is different as to the severity of their symptoms. Seeing double is not normal and you should have that evaluated.
  All the best

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An Off-Balance Life

Understanding Vertical Heterophoria

Get the Help Your Child Needs

About Dr. Cheryl Berger Israeloff

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Testimonials