Treatment Options for Binocular Vision Dysfunction

Binocular vision dysfunction is an eye condition that occurs when both eyes do not align with each other. The brain may try to correct the misalignment, but it results in pain, anxiety, and discomfort due to the considerable effort it takes.

The misalignment may be slight, but it still has a significant effect. What are some of the results of the brain trying to correct binocular vision dysfunction?

Symptoms

As the brain tries to force the eye muscles to compensate, it leads to symptoms that cause discomfort. They include:

• Nausea and motion sickness

• Dizziness

• Panic attacks while driving

• Panic attacks in large stores

• Poor depth perception

• Persistent headaches

• Eye pain

• Double vision

• Blurry vision

• Anxiety

• Losing your place when reading

• Photophobia (Light Sensitivity)

• Falling asleep when trying to read

Treatment Options

There are several options for treating binocular vision dysfunction. They include an prism eyeglasses, vision therapy, and surgery.

Eyeglasses

These are not regular prescription eyeglasses. They are specific eyeglasses for managing and correcting problems with binocular vision. The eyeglasses have prismatic lenses that manipulate light before it enters your eye. They displace the image in one eye. They cause it to match up with that of the other eye.

The lenses are custom-made to fit an individual, as the degree of misalignment varies in each person. The exact amount of prism will be proportional to the degree of misalignment. The doctor will fine-tune the prism until they get the right amount to correct your disorder. It will deal with the debilitating symptoms, improves communication between the eyes and the brain, and will make a significant improvement in your quality of life.

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is an option for some children with a convergence insufficiency (CI), which is a type of BVD in which your child’s eyes have difficulty converging together when reading.  CI can cause symptoms of sleepiness when reading, words swimming around when trying to read, tired eyes and headaches when trying to read. The doctor may prescribe it in combination with eyeglasses. The doctor draws a treatment plan to fit each patient. You will notice that your symptoms will gradually subside as you continue with the program. Make sure that you complete your treatment plan to reap the full benefits.

Surgery

Surgery is only recommended for very large strabismus. It only applies when the doctor realizes there is no improvement despite using non-invasive options. Proper diagnosis is also critical to avoid complications as there is no reversing the surgery. Remember to follow your doctor’s instructions after surgery to prevent complications.

Conclusion

The proper treatment begins with diagnosis. Once you have the diagnosis, the right treatment option will deal with the symptoms. Do not play down the importance of eye exams. They can lead to early detection of binocular vision dysfunction. Early detection will save you the discomfort, pain, and anxiety due to the symptoms.

For more on binocular vision dysfunction or believe you are suffering from any of these symptoms, get relief now and take our Free 5 Minute Self Test to find out if you have BVD Here.