I can tell you that I have double vision from my TBI too. The technical term is Diplopia. I've done a lot of research on this but it doesn't help my eye heal any faster. I live in Boston so have access to big name hospitals, luckily. I saw a neuro-ophthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye & Ear and he basically said, 'It takes time to heal, come back in 3 months and we'll see how you are.' That was not what I wanted to hear at the time but I have learned patience that I never knew I had before my accident.

I know that I have binocular diplopia which means that both eyes are affected. They are, basically, not in sync when I look at something. At first I was wearing an eye patch because, when I only use one eye, I don't see double. I had the eye patch over my left lens of my glasses and it worked well but throws my balance off. The Neuro took my glasses and applied this opaque tape (Transpore Tape - it is sold on Amazon or in drug stores near First Aid) over it instead of the patch. He said that it occluded the one eye like the patch but allows light in and gives some peripheral vision. It works really we'll and definitely defeats the stigma that an eye patch can cause (I got sick of pirate jokes real fast.)

If she wears glasses, the tape is really helpful. The patch is less desirable but does the job if her's in binocular like mine was.

I'm going to see another Neuro for a second opinion soon. I don't expect a different diagnosis or a better plan but, I am so much more knowledgable now than I was then, I'd appreciate a little dialogue with the doctor (even just for a little peace of mind.)

The double vision is my biggest problem coming out of my TBI (fatigue is a close second.) but I feel like it is something that I will learn to live with as it heals. I'm told it could be 3 or 6 months or longer. I just have to hope that it does. Good luck to your daughter, this must be so hard at such a young age. I hope some of this information is helpful to you (it was therapeutic typing it out.)

thank you
 

Thank you all so much for this information! I have been unable to focus without bringing on head pain for almost two years after concussion. It feels like the eye muscles are rebelling and that the eyes are off kilter somehow, though eye tests say they are 'fine'. This information about binocular vision is helpful.

G

I read somewhere that most opthomologists do not beleive in vision therapy. My regular eye doctor has a binocular sepcialist in their office to do those evaluations. Just food for thought.
I did see an opthomologist and he said I was fine. I had convergenence insufficiency and after 35 sessions of vision therapy that is corrected. I still have minor focusing issues but they think I have had that all my life and or it is just LOL old age and not able to be corrected.

I went to vestibular therapy consult where I failed the binocular vision screening. Now I'm waiting to see a behavioral optometrist to get specific rehab and exercises. I KNEW something was wrong with my eyes (told my original neuropsychologist doc in the early weeks that it felt like my eyes weren't "working together" so I even took myself to a neuro ophthalmologist who did a five second test to make sure I had no gross loss of vision and treated me like a stress case and patronizingly told me I was fine. I've since learned ophthalmologists don't believe in vision rehab. But now I know how to spell ophthalmologist.

I also get intermittent blurry vision but my eyesight vision is fine with my contacts and my prescriptions didn't change. It's a brain blurriness not a eyesight test kind of blurriness...hard to explain the difference. For anyone who wears contacts it feels exactly like when you get a bit blurry from having your contacts too dry. I keep putting in rewetting drops but it doesn't help...it's in my brain.

I'm hoping vision therapy helps! I also hope this explains most of my lingering symptoms (dizziness, blurry vision, feeling foggy in malls or supermarkets or other very visually stimulating places).

But to the original poster, I mean this with respect, but maybe now is not time to PUSH your daughter, she is very young and the injury sounds very recent. Give her time to heal. From what I understand this vision issues are par for the course with many concussions and most will resolve in the standard time frame, a couple months or so. If it persists longer, than think about the docs and the therapies.

Vision now normal, 14 y.o.
 

My 14 y.o. daughter suffered a concussion about 3 months ago, 3 weeks of school was missed due to severe headaches and blurred vision. It was a very frightening few months and we had visited an opthamologist specializing in neurology and a pediatric neurologist. Jenna improved gradually over time. We found the initial long days of sleep and avoiding overstimualtion was key. I felt compelled to post again to share the good news! Thanks for the support.

Great news
 

Thank you for sharing this good news about your daughter's recovery. I agree that sleep, rest and lack of sensory input all help to increase healing and reduce the risk of further damage that slows recovery.
I would caution that she still take it easy. Her youth is in her favour, but from what I understand, when you think you are A-ok you are just beginning to heal. Go easy, gradually and at a slow pace to ensure normal activities can be handled.
Good luck!