Neuro optometrists identify visual processing abnormalities and prescribe a rehabilitation plan.  This helps improve aspects of an individual's eyesight and vision that contribute to symptoms affecting their daily life. Neuro optometry can help resolve issues resulting from traumatic brain injuries, illness, physical disabilities, or poorly developed visual skills. Neuro optometry can also help children that have trouble with learning. Rather than jumping straight to medication, neuro optometry evaluates if any aspects of vision are contributing to symptoms like poor attention, reading comprehension difficulties or picking up on social cues. The treatment involves the rehabilitation of perceptual, visual and/ or motor disorders.

Patients of all ages who have neurological difficulties can benefit from this approach. Not getting treatment can impact conditions that affect balance, posture, and daily life.

 

Vision and Brain Function

Proper visual processing is necessary for simple and complex tasks. It is needed to move and maintain balance, to see clearly and gain proper orientation, to perceive depth and get a feel for the environment. Neuro optometry also looks at a child’s peripheral eyesight, signaling pathways, and possible disruptions that may alter a child’s ability to read, focus, and learn.  Optic nerve fibers linking the brain to the eyes work with the vestibular system. They work alongside the brain and inner ear to control eye movements and balance.

When you experience neurological fragility, it can affect the connection between the brain and the eye. Some of the changes you might experience can affect your reading and driving. It can even be hard to watch TV and walk.

This rehabilitation is ideal for patients who have relatively healthy eyes but have neurological symptoms affecting their life. Brain trauma can cause someone to need to relearn certain skills or behaviors that they were previously proficient in. Vision rehabilitation can help expedite this process and improve the long-term outcomes.  

Conditions Neuro Optometry Treats

This is the definitive therapy for binocular dysfunction, acquired strabismus, and diplopia. It also treats oculomotor dysfunction, convergence paralysis and other symptoms such as:

 

• Visual loss

• Headaches

• Light sensitivity

• Sound sensitivity

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Floating letters or words when reading

• Moving letters or words when reading

• Poor processing of written material

• Loss of interest in reading

• Eyes hurt when reading

• Poor auditory processing

• Poor attention/focus

• Poor awareness of surrounding space

• Difficulty switching attention from place to place

• Poor depth perception (toe walking)

• Balance difficulties

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Learning challenges

• Anxiety

Treatment Plan Options

The goal of neuro optometry treatment is to stimulate the affected areas of the brain, leading to relief. To help patients make sense of visual information, improve executive functioning and strengthen physical capabilities, solutions often include:

 

• Prescription lenses

• Prisms

• Filters

• Occlusion

• Activities to develop visual skills that are lacking

Understanding the Visual System

When treating brain injuries, illnesses, and sensory disabilities most doctors may overlook eye problems and eye exams seldom reveal how brain injury affects visual processing. People who experience a vision-affecting brain injury need a visual processing evaluation with a neuro optometrist. The length of the rehabilitation will depend on the patient's condition. Treatment programs may change depending on the patient's needs.

Neuro Optometry Vs. Vision Therapy

Neuro optometric rehabilitation deals with visual issues resulting from brain injuries or defects. Vision therapy targets visual issues that affect reading and learning. The issues here include:

 

• Double vision

• Crossed eyes

• Lazy eye

• Convergence insufficiency
  
   

Rehabilitation is effective for strengthening the visual system. It helps reduce visual symptoms of traumatic brain injuries. The American Optometric Association and other medical professionals recognize neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

 

According to research, patients who went through rehabilitation experienced reduced visual symptoms. Their rates of success are also high. Schedule a vision exam with a neuro optometrist if you have a neurological condition.

For more information on neuro optometry, contact Eversee Boutique Eyecare at our Winnetka, Illinois office. Call (847) 386-9045 to schedule an appointment today.