Do You Have Blurry Vision From a Concussion or Hitting Your Head?

Following a concussion, people often report blurry vision, difficulty reading or concentrating and not being able to see well. This is because oculomotor impairments often occur after a concussion.

These eye movement impairments often result in a pressure-based headache at the front of the head and irritation of the eyes. Learn more about how these impairments affect your body below.

Oculomotor Impairments Often Affect The Following Systems

  • The pursuit system* is the ability to track an object. Think about following a tennis match or a moving object, your eyes are moving to follow the object while your head remains still.
  • The saccadic system* allows you to move your eyes from one object to another. This system is heavily relied upon while reading and moving from one word to the next. People with these impairments after a concussion will often report that they feel like the words are jumping or they cannot stay on the line while reading.
  • Convergence is necessary for viewing things up close and reading. After a concussion, people often report that they do not like things close to their faces. Difficulty reading and concentrating are very common reports that tend to be accompanied by pressure in the forehead.
  • Accommodation occurs when the eyes exit the converged position and focus. Oftentimes people will have both convergence and accommodation disorder that make any near-vision work challenging and uncomfortable.

*If both of these systems are affected, then watching moving objects, reading and being in busier environments can easily provoke your symptoms.

All of these impairments can be treated with specialized physical and/ or occupational therapy and, in some cases, vision therapy provided by an optometrist. The concussion specialists at Sheltering Arms are specifically trained on assessments and treatment strategies to address all of these impairments as well as other possible causes of your symptoms.

Share This Post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
RehaBlog

More Posts

Sore Arm from a Shot? Here’s What to Do

Arm soreness after a flu shot or vaccine is a common side effect that can make movement uncomfortable. Learn simple exercises that may help reduce the pain and speed up recovery.

Foam Roller Exercise

5 Foam Roller Exercises for Back and Shoulders

Do your shoulders feel tight after a long day? Or maybe your upper back feels stiff after sitting, working out or spending too much time in one position. A foam roller is a simple tool that can help relieve muscle tightness, improve mobility and keep your back and shoulders moving comfortably. Whether you’re recovering from a workout or just trying to loosen up, these five exercises are an easy place to start.

Backpack Safety

Backpacks are a convenient way for students to carry around their schoolbooks and supplies throughout the day, but using them incorrectly can lead to serious muscle and joint injuries. Carrying a heavy load can strain the shoulders, back, and neck. As a result, the body tries to compensate by leaning forward or sideways, which can lead to misalignment of the spine and weakening of muscles.

Managing and Preventing Incontinence with Physical Therapy

More than 25 million adult Americans suffer from incontinence. Men and women are often embarrassed to seek treatment for loss of bladder or bowel control. Urinary and fecal incontinence can cause low self-esteem, create social isolation, and impair quality of life. Incontinence is the lack of voluntary control over urination or defecation. There are two major types of incontinence and they are treated differently.

Start your Journey

Learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute

Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.