PCS and vision problems
 

Hi,

Just wanted to ask those who had vision problems with their PCS symptoms. In the first few months I received some vision training from my behavioral optometrist which according to tests helped quite a bit.

So at around the 6 month mark from injury I started work again and was relatively symptom free until my 5th week where I had a setback.

My condition is improving with great progress in the last week but I decided to get my eyes checked again. Apparently I am having significant struggles with dimensional convergence again. So he wants to do some more vision training but keep it going over a period of 9 months so it does not return.

Based on my vision issue and my symptoms he suspects most if not all of my symptoms could be attributed to my vision problem at the moment. Anyone have any experience with this through their PCS struggles?

From what I can tell it's physio for the eyes making them work with 3d images at different convergence levels until I am at the normal level. Not sure how stressing on the brain it may be. He did say as soon as I hit a threshold I have to stop immediately and rest. He gave me some exercises for my eyes to do at home.

Any experiences with this?

I don't have experience with the vision therapies but:

PCS can cause a delayed fatigue problem with nerve controlled systems. A normal neuro/reflex test will not pick this up. It takes more continuous use of those motor nerve pathways before the weakness shows up.

This means one needs to be aware of these fatigue issues and reduce the workload before the fatigue level is reached.

An example of this is trying to do find manipulative work. If you find that your hands/fingers start to get shaky, this is likely due to reaching this fatigue level. This is a nerve function issue. It can be magnified by other stress factors like time limits or other performance stressors.

I used to have very steady hands. Now, any stressors limit my ability to maintain smooth hand movement.

It will help to consider your work environment. Are there stress factors that can be reduced? Do you work with a computer screen that has a refresh rate that is fatiguing? Anything you can do to reduce the stress substances that flow throughout the body should be helpful.

A key issues to be considered by anybody who is roller coastering through good and bad times is finding and reducing stressors. Depression is caused by these stressors. Any short term recovery from depression or anxiety will likely not last if these stressors are not reduced.

I have had a lot of vision problems with my PCS. In fact, I had a major relapse that was worse than the initial blow to the head, and the relapse was caused solely by computer work. After that, I developed problems with severe eyestrain, headaches caused by eyestrain, and severe photophobia.

These symptoms got worse for about 6 months and have been gradually improving now for about 6 months. I started vision therapy about a month and a half ago and so far it is helping to speed up my recovery--not only with the visual issues but with all of my symptoms.

I think that in my case, the vision problems have been exacerbating the rest of my symptoms by continually stressing out my brain and preventing it from healing properly.

eye strain \ headaches
 

I have been having a lot of eyes strain in the last few months and especially when on the computer. I am noticing this elevates or spawns a headache and my eyes feel bugged out. I do not wear glasses and had a slight stigmatism as a child but in my last eye exam a year ago I did not require glasses. After reading these posts I beleive it is related to the TBI - should I seek out an eye doc and explain to them what I have been experiencing. I need a magnifier to read and to focus on regular print - bright lights have been a major issues since my accident

Yes, definitely seek out an eye doc. However, standard optometrists and ophthomologists may not pick up on your problems. Optometrists at vision therapy clinic use more sophisticated testing that can pick up problems overlooked by an optometrist.

Mark,

Thanks for the reply, I never considered that possibility. Now and then I feel like I have weakness and my muscles feel weak and twitchy. You seem to be describing that it's a possibility of symptoms surfacing due to certain stressors leading up to it?

Yesterday for example was pretty close to symptom free but I was cautious at home and kept my ear plugs in all day. Felt pretty good, today now I got up and feel slightly weak and my muscles in legs are somewhat tingly/twitchy. Had a terrible night sleep however which has been common lately.

As for stressors, I have been working with my employer even now while off to continue and eliminate environmental stressors. Trying to find a private location away from the cubicle jungle, away from fluorescent lighting, filters on my LCD monitors (work in IT for a large organization), supportive chair and etc.

Where I am finding difficulty is establishing a boundary of level of work and rest periods. Since it does seem to have a delayed effect by the time I notice it's too late and very much a live and learn exercise which is frustrating. I found a reference to a utility in a previous post here called "workrave" that may be helpful in that regards.

Xanadu00,

Thanks for the reply, I will keep faith and continue forward with the vision therapies. Even in Canada with my insurance coverage much of this is not covered so expenses keep piling up.