How a Concussion May Affect Your Eyes | Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

When you think of a traumatic brain injury, you might believe that it involves a loss of consciousness or an obvious severe injury to the head. But not all brain injuries are the same.

March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, and some types of brain injuries, such as concussions, are misunderstood. A concussion can cause a variety of symptoms, including vision issues. 
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What is a concussion? 

A concussion is a type of brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a concussion is considered a mild brain injury because it is not life-threatening, but it can still be serious and cause several symptoms, including:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Balance problems
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Vision issues

Any type of blow or jolt to the head, such as a fall, sports injury, or car accident, can lead to a concussion. The blow to the head causes the head and brain to move back and forth within the skull quickly. That rapid movement can cause injury to the tissue and cells in the brain. The brain is the control center of the body, so the symptoms of a concussion can be vast. 
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How a concussion may affect the eyes

According to the Concussion Alliance, about 69 percent of adolescents with a concussion reported one or more vision problems in a 2016 study. Vision problems from a concussion may occur immediately following the injury or several weeks later. Although it may vary, some of the possible eye problems associated with a concussion include:

Blurred vision: Blurred vision along with double vision is one of the most common symptoms of a concussion. Blurry vision often becomes worse when someone is tired.

Light sensitivity: The brain may have trouble adjusting to various levels of light after a head injury.
Eye pain: Any blow to the head may lead to a headache and possible eye pain.  

Visual field loss: Any loss of the normal field of vision is considered visual field loss. The extent of the loss after a concussion depends on the severity of the injury and the part of the brain injured. Visual field loss can lead to bumping into things and even falls.

Eye-tracking problems: Most of us track objects with our eyes without thinking about it. But after a brain injury, that ability to track things normally can be affected. Trouble tracking objects can interfere with eye-hand coordination and everyday activities. 
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Treatment for eye issues after a concussion 

People that have a concussion may have a normal head-imaging scan, but that does not necessarily mean they will not develop vision problems. Because eye problems can easily be missed, anyone that sustains a concussion should consider having an eye exam.

If vision problems are present after a concussion, your eye doctor will work with you to determine the best treatment plan. Treatment may include lens filters to help with light sensitivity and patches to help improve other vision problems.

In some cases, vision therapy may be recommended. Vision therapy involves doing different exercises and using various tools to train certain parts of the visual system. Vision therapists help improve issues, such as focusing, eye tracking, and helping the eyes work together. 
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Prevention 

There are easy ways to decrease your risk of head injuries, including concussions. Consider the following:

• Wear a helmet when bike riding, snowboarding, skiing, and participating in other sports that have a high fall risk.
• Use protective headgear for contact sports where a head injury is possible.
• Always wear your seatbelt in a car.
• Put handrailing on steps to prevent falls.

If you have questions about concussions and eye injuries or if you would like to talk about whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, phone our office at 508-746-8600. 
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