Hi, my 14 yo daughter was hit by the opponent as she was jumping up to make a basket in a game on Feb 11, 2014. She hit the padded wall and then hit her forehead on the floor. Never lost consciousness, and is aware of the time before and after the injury. CT was negative. Slept for 18-20 hours the first 10 days. Headaches controlled with ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Has been home from school this whole time, avoiding cell phone, tv and computer. Noise and confusion bother her so we've kept her 4 brothers quiet as possible. The last 2 days has slept less and headaches seemed to be a little better. The reason I am posting is because since the injury she has had blurred vision constantly. One week after the injury she saw a neuro-opthalamologist (amazed that our small community had one) and was told her eyes are 20/20 and that the blurred vision is from the PCS. Has anyone experienced this and how long does it usually take to get better? Thanks in advance for any help, I am so worried.

Jenna's mom,

Every concussion is different. Nobody can say how long it will take for her vision to recover. She still is very early in her recovery period so it is too early to be overly concerned. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to help her.

It may help if she starts a vitamin and supplement regimen with Omega 3 fish oil with a good DHA level. The Vitamins and Supplements sticky at the top has information.

I am confused as to how she can have 20/20 vision if she is struggling with blurry vision.

She should limit her use of acetaminophen. It is not good for brain health.

Keep up the good work of keeping stress levels low.

My best to you.

Thanks for the reply. Regarding the doctor saying "20/20" vision: she said her vision was fine it's just that her brain can't process what she is seeing. Good idea about the vitamins and being careful to limit the acetominophen. I did make an appointment to see a pediatric neurologist in 2 weeks (will have to drive 31/2 hours to get to it) but I'm praying she'll make a speedy recovery and we won't need to keep the appointment. Trying to stay positive thinking.

I'm so sorry for your daughter. Rest is also very important: no reading, no screen, no tv, no texting -- ie. no life!

My neuroopthalmologist explained that vision is more about the brain processing information. With concussions, the brain is unhappy and will need time to readjust before it can help with complex functions like vision.

The good news is that the brain usually rebuilds pathways to perform pre injury. The bad news is that there is no real time schedule.

Did the neuro ophthalmologist also check for convergence and accommodation? Both eyes need to work in binocular vision to also help the brain process information. 20/20 vision doesn't mean binocular vision.

Best of luck!

Thank you. I have a call in to the neuroopthalmolgist to inquire about convergence and accommodation. And is visual therapy something that would help in Jenna's situation? Not even sure what exactly it is, but someone mentioned it at work today.

Vision therapy will definitely help the brain re-train itself to see correctly. There are various exercises that are done at home or at the clinic.

Having said that, it is very painful and exhausting when done. There may be a time of rest and testing and then beginning the therapy.

Although, I am sure your daughter is ready to get back to her life!

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

Did the doctor test for convergence insufficiency and binocular vision? If there are deficits in these areas, it can either be addressed via vision therapy or else through things like prism lenses.

For more information (or a second opinion), you might want to consult a practitioner found via http://www.braininjuries.org or http://www.nora.cc

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.