Vision
 

I have vision issues that I have a difficult time explaining to the docs. I can read the computer screen because I can adjust it to fit my needs. When they give me an eye chart test I am within the normal range. I have some nystagmus but not due to inner ear problems.
I did testing for inner ear problems and it came out negative. But the found concussion/ central nervous system problems. I am bothered by scrolling images. I am bothered by lots of fine print on a page, even worse if it is on a colored paper. Difficultly focusing near to far to near. Difficulty looking side to side. Dizzy. Eye stress.
This is driving me crazy. I am a VISUAL artist and high school art teacher. I run the whole high school art program. Metal smithing, pottery, painting, sculpting, drawing, design....all of the noise, action, vision demands etc are incredibly overwhelming. I also used to make art myself. Which I can't do now. My job is my whole life.
Today I was thinking that if I could work on the vision part of this concussion battle it might help. Or am I fooling myself? Is Mark just going to tell me to get some more rest. Is the vision just part of the big picture and I just need to be patient. I am at five months.
Su seb MN

Hi Su seb,

Vision issues is what I feel is my biggest hurdle also. I am trying to get into see a neuro ophthalmologist but in Canada they are very hard to see. I have seen my optometrist 3 times and, like you, am told that my vision is great and there are no issues. My neurologist says that it is the brain not able to keep up with what the eyes are seeing and that it will just take time. She did not say rest, just time.

If you have a chance though to see a neuro ophthalmologist I say go for it and they might be able to give you prism glasses or colour changing lenses to cut down on the eye strain. A lot of people here have had good luck seeing them or a NORA trained eye doctor www.nora.cc check them out and see if there's someone near you.

I can tell you though that my eyes have gotten a little better in the last three months when I move my head and in moving vehicles etc so the brain is starting to catch up. Vestibular therapy might be helping that too. You'll probably notice improvements soon too. Think back a few months and maybe you will already have noticed some improvement.

I know how frustrating the eye issues are but just hang in there and you should start to see some improvement hopefully!

I hope you're having a good day.

CC

Your symptoms sound exactly like mine which I was diagnosed with convergent insufficiency. You need to get a visual asseent exam by a neuro-opthamologist and who can prescribe tinted/prism glasses. This is not cheap($700 for exam and glasses) and there arent many dr. Who do this. Fly if you have to. It is worth.

The glasses are so much better than doing vision therapy. I found relief instant once I got the glasses and in my last test, my convergence was improving significantly. Let me know if you have any questions and best of luck.

As an artist and art teacher, I can only imagine how frustrating the visual difficulties must be.

I'm in month 7 now of PCS, and I was diagnosed with convergence insufficiency 3 months ago.

As the posters have said, you will need to see a neuro-opthalmologist or binocular vision clinic. I live in Berkeley, Ca and University of California-Berkeley has a wonderful clinic. Perhaps a nearby university with an opthalmology department can help.

The prism glasses are wonderful and vision therapy less so. I still have problems with processing and memory when reading, as well as balance/inner ear issues, so perhaps it is just more time.

A lot of the art techniques you mention require coordinating visual information and physical movement which may be very taxing on the brain. As well as all those kids!

See a Neuro-Optometrist or Neuro-Opthamologist!
 

Without a doubt, get yourself to a Neuro-Opthamologist or a Neuro-Optomitrist pronto! I just started my first day of vision therapy today. I waited far too long before getting my vision checked by the right kind of specialist. Don't waste time! Deficits in my vision--I think there are 9 different things wrong with my vision, so I can't remember what they all are--are causing the majority of my remaining symptoms, so if I can get a handle on the dizziness and eye strain, I'll be good to go!

The prism glasses don't work for everyone, just so you know, and they are like crutches. They help you cope with the symptoms so you can get by, which would be helpful in your case! The vision therapy can potentially help you actually get better, but I guess it has better results for some than others! I'm just praying it works for me! Good luck to you!

Positive
 

When I was at my therapist today she said it would only take a minute to test me for convergence insufficiency. It was positive. She said I should she a specialist. But remember I'm on workers comp and it takes months to get treatment approved. At least I can understand my problem and know what to ask for. Thanks everyone. Keep the advice coming.

I agree with geting yourself checked by someone who has the expertise.
I wear prisms (up and down and side to side)... They take a load of your brain AND they also promote neuroplasticity....ie making new pathways to encourage the eyes to function better together. Made a HUGE difference in my life.
Good luck!

Prism
 

I am working with a team at HCMC in Minneapolis and they sent me to see a neuro opthamologist (Dr. Marian Rubenfeld). I had convergence issues as well and a bunch of other issues (saccades, tracking, nystagmus.... I could go on). So far the prisms are making me more naucseous.... (I hope this is just a temporary adjustment period thing). I am absolutely miserable. Constant dizziness, nausea, and a sense of being off balance for 7.5 months. I guess I was hoping for a miracle with the prisms :(

In addition to prisms, vision therapy may also be able to help. You can look at http://www.braininjuries.org for someone who will evaluate and see if vision therapy may be able to help.

The main thing to know is that your medical eye exam may be completely normal and you can STILL have issues with your binocular vision. You need a different type of eye evaluation that will look at how your eyes work together, adjust to near and far, etc. A neuro-ophthalmologist, neuro-optometrist, or behavioral optometrist can help.

Good luck!

My neuro-opthamologist said that prisms would be too much for my visual system to handle(my converge issues were really bad) and would make me feel horrible so she prescribed glasses with blue tint which made a world of difference for me. I would check to see if this is an option for you.