Vertigo and Vision

Vertigo is the feeling of dizziness or as if the room is spinning. Vertigo can occur for a large variety of reasons. Certain medical conditions can lead to vertigo. In some cases, a cause is not known. But did you know that vision and vertigo are sometimes linked?
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The article below looks at how vision affects vertigo and what you can do to treat it.  

How vision affects vertigo 

Vision and your vestibular system are connected. Your vestibular system helps control eye position. This allows your head to move while your eyes can stay fixed on something you want to see.

But sometimes, the vestibular system does not work as it should, which is called vestibular dysfunction. Different things can affect the vestibular system and lead to dysfunction, such as:

• The eyes are not working together well
• Eyes struggling to focus
• Eye tracking problems
• Problems processing visual surroundings 

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Symptoms

Symptoms of vertigo can last for a few seconds or several hours. Some people also have vertigo that lasts for days or comes and goes over long periods of time.

The symptoms can be mild or severe. Severe vertigo can interfere with daily activities. Typical symptoms of vertigo include:

• Unsteadiness on the feet
• Loss of balance
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting 

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Do problems with vision cause vertigo? 

Since the visual system can affect the vestibular system, if vision is negatively impacted, it can lead to vertigo. Possible vision-related problems that can cause vertigo include:

Eyestrain: Eyestrain can occur due to looking at digital devices for long periods of time without a break. When looking at a digital device for too long, the muscles of the eye repeatedly work to align themselves, which can lead to a feeling of dizziness.

Incorrect eyeglasses: If your eyeglasses are not right for your vision, it can make you feel off balance and dizzy.

Bifocal lenses: Bifocal lenses can sometimes lead to vertigo. When you wear a bifocal lens, your eye has to adjust to different strengths while the eyes move around. This may cause vertigo in some people as they get used to the lens.

Nystagmus: Nystagmus involves involuntary up and down, side to side, or circular motions of the eyes. It can develop due to different conditions that affect the brain, such as multiple sclerosis.

Traumatic brain injury: Although a traumatic brain injury is not an eye condition, it can lead to problems with vision. The vision issues due to a brain injury, in turn, may cause vertigo. 
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Treating vertigo 

Vertigo can be hard to treat. Since both vision and the vestibular system are complicated, it can take a little trial and error for the right treatment. The best way to treat vertigo is to treat the underlying cause.

Possible treatment for vertigo includes:

Correcting eye malalignment problems: If you have eye malalignment problems, prescription prism glasses may help correct the problems, which also reduces dizziness. 

Medication: When the underlying cause of vertigo cannot be determined or treated, medication to reduce symptoms may help. Medications will not correct the problem that is causing the dizziness, but they can improve functioning and quality of life. Medication options may include antiemetics and antihistamines to prevent nausea due to motion sickness.

Surgery: When other forms of treatment do not work, surgery to correct issues with the inner ear may be an option. 

If you have vertigo and do not know the cause, it is helpful to have an eye exam. Finding the underlying cause can help get you on track for the best treatment. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.