What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden injury damages your brain. There are two types of TBI: a closed head injury that doesn’t break through the skull (yet may still cause brain damage), and a penetrating head injury, which causes the skull to break.
Approximately 47% of traumatic brain injuries are caused by falls, particularly among young children and those over 65 years of age. Other TBI injuries can result from blunt force trauma (15%), car accidents (14%), and violent physical assaults (9%).
The symptoms experienced following a TBI include headaches, confusion, dizziness, convulsions, poor concentration, memory issues, and personality changes. Because more areas of the brain are used to process vision than any other system, traumatic brain injuries can often result in vision problems.
In order to recover from a TBI, one needs to undergo rehabilitation, which can come in many forms — depending on your specific case and requirements. It may include physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as neurological, and psychiatric care. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation, however, is one of the most effective ways to resolve a range of traumatic brain injury vision problems.
Many TBIs are “closed head” injuries that do not break the skull, while others involve penetrating injuries that damage tissue more directly.
Because large areas of the brain are involved in visual processing, concussion and brain injury often lead to significant vision problems.
Common Vision Problems & Symptoms Following a Brain Injury
Visual problems are often overlooked during initial treatment of a brain injury and in some cases; symptoms may not be present until sometime following the injury. If you notice any changes in your vision following a concussion or some other head trauma, don’t ignore them: Immediately contact your eye care professional. It is important to determine the cause of the vision change. Early diagnosis leads to appropriate treatment and/or referral to a specialist, such as a Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Optometrist.Left untreated, visual system disorders can have serious consequences, such as the ability to organize and make sense of visual information along with poor depth perception and difficulties concerning balance and posture.Following are some common vision problems that may occur following brain injury or other medical conditions such as a stroke:
Eye focusing
Blurred vision or ability to shift focus between objects between near and far distances may be compromised.
Eye teaming
Your eyes may not work together properly as a team even to the point of experiencing double vision.
Eye movements
You may experience difficulty with eye movements when reading or trying to follow a moving object (like a ball being thrown). Losing your place while reading is a common complaint.
Motion sensitivity
The integration between the vision and balance system can be disrupted, making it difficult to process motion properly. Symptoms can include discomfort and even dizziness when scrolling on a computer screen or phone, or when in busy environments such as grocery stores, social settings, or sporting events.
Visual Field Loss
Partial or complete vision loss can also occur after a head trauma. The area of the brain that has been affected as well as the extent of the damage will determine your field of view. This may cause such problems as bumping into objects, being struck by approaching objects, or sudden falls.
Eye Pain and Headaches
Partial or complete vision loss can also occur after a head trauma. The area of the brain that has been affected as well as the extent of the damage will determine your field of view. This may cause such problems as bumping into objects, being struck by approaching objects, or sudden falls.
Sensitivity to Light
Brain injury is often accompanied by increased light sensitivity and general inability to tolerate glare. Photophobia, or sensitivity to light, can be exacerbated by specific light sources, such as bright sunlight and fluorescent lighting. Recent studies have also suggested that LCD screens (such as from computers or smartphone devices) can be particularly bothersome after a concussion.
Post Concussion / TBI Vision Assessment
People of all ages who have suffered neurological injury and who experience visual symptoms can benefit from a detailed post-concussion vision evaluation.
What We Evaluate :
How the eyes work together and stay aligned
Focusing effort and the ability to keep targets clear
Eye tracking and scanning skills
How the brain processes visual information in space
Interaction between vision, balance and other sensory systems
Visual perception, memory and standard eye health
After the examination, the neuro-optometrist designs an individualized treatment plan to address each person’s specific needs and symptoms.
“Research suggests that a large percentage of TBI patients experience visual dysfunctions such as blurred vision, light sensitivity and tracking difficulties.”