While vision isn’t the only component of the body that enables us to maintain our balance, it does play an important role which if disrupted, can make life more difficult. Vestibular dysfunction, a disorder which can affect balance, can be impacted by damage to the vision system.
Vestibular dysfunction is an overarching term for balance disorders. Symptoms can include dizziness and vertigo, and it can make life more difficult, and more dangerous. The vestibular system itself is the link between the inner ears and brain that enables us to maintain balance. More recently, it has become understood that vision plays a role in the ability to balance as well. When something is out of order, that is vestibular dysfunction.
There are several things which can lead to vestibular dysfunction, and depending on what caused it, treatment may vary.
Some causes include:
Vestibular dysfunction can have a wide variety of symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
Less common symptoms include:
Since there are many potential causes of vestibular dysfunction, you may need several types of examinations to determine what the cause of your problem is. Part of the path to a diagnosis may require ruling out some causes in order to determine just what is causing the issue.
You may be recommended for one or more of the following:
There are several treatment options for vestibular dysfunction, and the type best suited for you will vary depending on the specific cause of your disorder.
Vision is now understood to play an important role in our ability to balance. The vestibular system (the inner ear system which helps us balance) coordinates with the visual system through the brain to enable the eyes to properly fixate on a single location. This connection, called the vestibulo-ocular reflex, plays a major role in stabilizing the image we see when our head moves, thus helping us remain balanced. If this vision portion of this connection is disrupted, our ability to remain balanced diminishes.
As with many other vision problems, Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation is well equipped to treat this problem.
Neuro optometrists specialize in understanding how vision issues impact other areas of our lives. To determine if a vision issue is the cause of your vestibular dysfunction, our neuro optometrist will perform a functional eye exam, which evaluates many areas of the visual system that standard eye exams do not.
Our office is equipped with advanced technology to further assess visual health and function, our neuro optometrist will assess for each patient what tests are needed.
Neuro optometric rehabilitation therapy helps patients retrain their eyes and brain to regain the lost functionality due to vestibular dysfunction. Various techniques and exercises are used to get the eyes to effectively work as a team and to see visual space in an accurate manner. Your treatment is highly personalized to suit your unique situation and needs.
Prism Lenses can also help correct some of the possible underlying causes of vestibular dysfunction.
Vestibular dysfunction can be caused by a number of things, including vision issues. In those cases, neuro optometric rehabilitation is a very effective treatment method. If you are suffering from vestibular dysfunction, Book an Appointment for an evaluation with us.
Monday-Thursday
8:30AM-5:00PM
Friday
8:30AM-3:00PM
Saturday-Sunday
Closed
