Anyone recovered from Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome enough to work a full day?
 

I'm so close but so far away. A few months ago I had moderate to harsh headaches from wake up, to the time i went to sleep. I started doing 2 x 4 hr days at work to get my foot back in the door. 3 months later I'm 10 months PCS and my headaches don't really affect my personal life much anymore - one bad one every couple of weeks.

The problem is work, after 1.5hrs of using a monitor and thinking hard I get a headache on the right side of my face/temple and after 4 hours I've had more than enough.

I've recently been prescribed prism glasses as my convergence is insufficient. These haven't helped yet and I've done 4 shifts at work using them!

I had a meeting at work today with HR, they are getting occupational health involved to try and determine what they can change to get me working for longer, I feel it may be crunch time soon and I might lose my job :(

My mental function is still great, I can think about technical things at work and resolve problems for people, but the monitor usage is the limiting factor...

Has anyone with these symptoms fully recovered and if so in how long? If i get the sack I may consider not working until the issues are fully resolved if that won't be too long.

The most frustrating thing about this is there is no real prognosis, the NORA optometrist said it can take years not months to get better, like maybe 4 or 5 years... I can't not work for that long!

I work 33hrs a week and had similar problems with getting headaches through working. Concentrating and computer use are a problem so I have to limit the computer to 2 hrs a day with breaks from it.

I personally use Cymbalta 30mg which is an antidepressant and painkiller, it allows me to work a 9.5 hour day in a stressful job, erradicates headaches and reduces other symptoms.

How did your headaches improve or resolve? Thank you!

prisms helped a lot but I too am limited on the computer. headaches and bad eye strain and pain after too much (a few hours). I used to go for hours and hours!!!!!

You may want to try an antioxidant supplement called astaxanthin. It is supposed to help alleviate eye strain and fatigue. It also has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

http://www.fortifeye.com/siteRoot/pd...EyeFatigue.pdf

http://www.dynamicchiropractic.ca/pr...riendly%3Dtrue

Lighting and Computer Screen
 

I can only last 1/2 hour at a time on the computer and have just recently started wearing the prism glasses, however my occupational therapist was saying that lighting in the office (ie. florenscent lighting) can have a huge effect on eye strain, the other thing he mention was about getting me a mac computer or ipad, there is something about regular monitors that has some sort of "flicking" property which can play havoc with the eyes.

Not sure if it helps by environmental interference can be really bad. He also mentioned that lighting in grocery stores are really bad and that there is some kind of sun glass you can wear to improve the situation. I find in shopping malls I have to wear my sunglasses as the lights really make me sick.

I also was wondering in general if people with PCS and those who also have post traumatic vision syndrome, convergence insufficiencies, mid line shift syndrome, etc. seem to be the ones who are longer to get back to work or seem to be the ones who don't get back to work.


I have been told from my 15 months post accident that it will more than probably be another full year before I can work..... I find this amazing and of course there is the disclosure .... they don't really know.

I wish you the best of luck......

Norma

Hi Norma,

I have been told that th vision problems that I have indicate brain stem injury as well as injury into the brain itself, and that is why there is a much longer recovery period. I have been told 3-5 years to get to a new normal. prisms may always be necessary for many people.
3-5 years is nothing compared to what may have been ...with a brain stem injury, life can stop very abruptly. I am focussing on my luck at this stage in my healing. What else can one do?! :)

Work
 

I've been working reduced schedule ever since I sustained my concussion 4 months ago because I cannot afford not to. I haven't had a lot of vision problems, except for extreme light sensitivity and my job requires a lot of computer work as well as concentration and attention to details.

I've been wearing sunglasses basically 24/7 because, as other's mentioned, the flourescent lights and computer lights are killers for us!! With the reduced schedule and the sunglasses I have been doing ok...I still get mild headaches by the end of the night and a little dizzy, but nothing I haven't handled millions of times since I got hurt!! Hope this is maybe a little bit helpful!

Oh please please please!
 

Let these horrible eye-related symptoms resolve quicker than in 3-5 years! I was thinking another year and I'd be fine.

Although it is not a longterm solution, I have heard an eye patch (change eyes so no one dominates) can help with vision headaches.

Also if you can change your enviornment so there is no fluorescent lighting, lower or more natural lighting, no music or noise, and take breaks.

I haven't gone back to work, and I cannot imagine your stress.

Best of luck!

I have the common problems teaming, depth perception, inner ear damage, mid line shift etc. Told last week 4-5 years before I can return to work full time - however, it won't be back in IT

thanks for the help
 

I am 3 years in and wear prism glasses from a NORA optomologist. I also use green lenses for one minute 2x a day. I am up to looking at a computer screen for about 4 hours a day, and actually working about 6-7 hours a day 4 days a week. I print out whatever I can. My neurologist has recommended that I take a 5 minute break (at least) every hour. I work with the florescent lights off. I love the idea of trying a Mac.

Good news
 

I started panicking after reading this thread and talked to my vision therapist. She just treated a client with similar symptoms to mine and his issues resolved in less than a year. That gives me hope! Just wanted to share that with the rest of you. The time for recovery varies quite a bit from person to person. Also on the upside, I did 3 to 4 times better on all my exercises this week. That's a fairly decent jump!

jesus i hope 3-5 years isnt for me,

i have a wierd vision where it seems like im in a daze, or in a fishbowl and everything is just not right as i look around,its nightmarish, sound famiiar to anyone?

im seeing a neuro optometrist on the 8th, i hope my prognosis isnt too drastic:confused:

The good news is you are seeing someone! That was a major breakthrough for me, 6 months post injury! Good luck!!!