Are You Experiencing Nausea, Dizziness or Vertigo? It Can Be Related to Issues With Your Visual System

Find out if you need to see an optometrist by taking the Double Vision Quiz

What Sorts of Issues can Cause Nausea or Dizziness?

Symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and vertigo when related to vision tend to occur following traumatic brain injuries, including mild concussions.

The body maintains balance through the cooperation of three separate systems.

The vestibular system is primarily located in the inner ear, and provides the brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation.

Proprioceptors located in the legs and feet give the body a stable platform along with information on movement and motion.

Lastly, the visual system, most relevant for us, provides information from the eyes to the brain, and it is in fact the dominant system when it comes to staying balanced and preventing dizziness.

Conditions Which can Cause Dizziness or Nausea

An issue in the visual system can lead to conditions which cause balance-related symptoms. These include:

Incorrect prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses
Binocular vision disorder
Eye strain
Vertigo
Spatial disorientation
Nystagmus (involuntary and repetitive eye movements)
Visual midline shift syndrome
Hemianopsia (blindness in half of the visual field)
Traumatic brain injury

How Do Vision Issues Cause Dizziness and Balance Disorders?

The most common reason is that vision issues may cause a misalignment in the eyes, which can cause blurry or double vision. This in turn leads to eye strain as the brain attempts to properly merge the two separate images from each eye. This extra strain may cause extra stress on the eye muscles, causing them to shake, which can make one feel light-headed or dizzy.

Eye misalignment can vary greatly in severity, and in cases where it is a minor misalignment it can be missed in routine eye exams while still causing one to feel dizzy or nauseous.

How Do Vision Issues Cause Dizziness and Balance Disorders?

When Should You Seek Treatment?

If you have recently suffered a traumatic brain injury, and especially if you are already experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or trouble balancing, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. The earlier treatment starts, the greater your odds at achieving the best possible results. However, even if treatment isn’t sought immediately, neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy can still greatly improve your condition.

How are Vision Problems that Cause Balance Disorders Diagnosed?

The best way to determine if you are suffering from a vision disorder which is causing your balance issues or dizziness is to have a functional eye exam, conducted by a neuro-optometrist. Far more comprehensive in what it examines when compared to a standard eye exam, this exam will both help our eye doctor determine what the root cause of your problem is and enable them to start formulating a treatment plan.

How are Vision Problems that Cause Balance Disorders Treated?

Following your functional eye exam, which will assess the status of your eye health and your visual skills, our doctor will formulate a personalized treatment plan for you, designed to correct the underlying problems causing your dizziness or balance issues rather than simply treating the symptoms.

Depending on the specifics of your condition, neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy may be utilized on its own, though vestibular therapy may also be recommended alongside.

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy is generally conducted in weekly therapy sessions, utilizing a variety of techniques and exercises designed to improve your visual skills to strengthen the brain-eye connection.

Oftentimes corrective lenses or prism lenses will be prescribed in addition to your therapy, which will allow for immediate improvements while therapy is being done.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

The length of treatment varies on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specifics of your condition. What is constant, however, is the fact that improvements seen through this therapy are long lasting.

Summary

Symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and trouble balancing, are not always immediately associated with a vision problem, but vision issues can cause them. This can have a serious impact on daily life even in more minor cases. However, effective treatment, in the form of neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy, can be of great help. Contact us today to schedule a functional vision exam, so our eye doctor can determine the precise cause of your issue and devise a treatment plan. You can call (562) 925-6591 or Book an Appointment and we will be happy to help you.

Learn More

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Testimonials

I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.

Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.

Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!

Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.

Joe M.

I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.

Kayla W.

This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.