Acquired brain injury can cause visual disturbances
Up to 80% of patients with acquired brain injury have visual impairments. Learn about symptoms and treatment options.
Have you or a relative suffered an acquired brain injury, such as concussion, whiplash, blood clot in the brain, cerebral hemorrhage etc.? It could be a bicycle accident, a fall down the stairs or a car accident. If so, you should be aware of whether there may be visual disturbances and headaches caused by vision. An acquired brain injury can cause major binocular vision problems.
Vision has many complicated connections throughout the brain, which is why even seemingly small injuries can affect vision and binocular vision. The damage can be both "visible" in the form of a squint or missing visual field, or "invisible" in the form of uncoordinated eye movements, eyes that can no longer turn inward, or problems with the so-called vestibulo-ocular system (balance-eye muscle cooperation).
Often only the visible problems are detected. It is therefore important to have a full examination of vision. Up to 60% of patients with acquired brain injury have visual impairments.
Binocular vision problems and visual disturbances with acquired brain injury
There are a number of symptoms that may indicate the "invisible" vision problems or visual disturbances:
Visual challenges
- Double vision, possibly in the form of shadows on letters
- Missing visual field
- Dizziness when changing focus
- Difficulty focusing while moving
Problems with reading
- Can only read for very short periods - especially on a screen
- Text appears blurry or bleeds together
- Eyes jump around in text and lines are re-read
- Problems following TV subtitles
- Difficulty remembering what was read
- Reduced reading speed
Physical discomfort
- Headache even after short reading sessions
- Fatigue, eye irritation and frequent blinking
- Dizziness, nausea, motion sickness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness from fast-paced films, e.g. action movies
- Discomfort in places with many moving visual impressions (e.g. shopping centers)
Motor challenges
- Reduced distance judgment when pouring water or in traffic
- Problems judging distances on stairs
- Balance problems
- Difficulty orienting oneself
Help available for visual disturbances after acquired brain injury
The following organizations have in-depth knowledge in the field:
Listen to the Hjernecast podcast
You can hear Neuro-optometrist Maria Beadle from TrainYourEyes in the podcast Hjernecast #7
Listen hereApp: Min Hjernerystelse
A sound clip-based app designed to ease rehabilitation after concussion. Contains symptom management info, treatment suggestions and a symptom diary. 79kr/month or 250kr/year.
minhjernerystelse.dk
