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What Causes Binocular Vision Dysfunction?

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A person suffering from dizziness from their binocular vision dysfuntion

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) occurs when your eyes struggle to work together as a team, leading to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or difficulty focusing. The specific cause can vary—from subtle eye misalignment to injuries or muscle imbalances—but they all boil down to your brain and eyes not being on the same page.

If these issues sound familiar, it might be time to schedule an eye exam to get to the root of the problem and explore solutions.

What Is Binocular Vision Dysfunction?

When your eyes are slightly misaligned, your brain has to work harder to merge the images from both eyes into a single, clear picture, leading to BVD.

Though relatively common, BVD often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, such as migraines or anxiety disorders.

Common Symptoms of Binocular Vision Dysfunction

Symptoms of BVD can vary widely from person to person. Some of the common symptoms include:

  • Frequent headaches or migraines 
  • Difficulty focusing, especially on close objects 
  • Blurred or double vision 
  • Dizziness or a feeling of imbalance 
  • Eye strain or discomfort after reading 
  • Increased sensitivity to light 
  • Closing one eye while reading or viewing screens 

How Your Eyes Work Together to See Clearly

Your eyes and brain form an intricate system designed to provide clear, unified vision. Each eye captures its own image, and your brain stitches these two visual inputs into one picture. For this process to work smoothly, your eyes must be properly aligned.

Eye muscles play a crucial role in this alignment. When they perform as they should, focusing on near or far objects is seamless, and the visual system can operate smoothly.

When one or both eyes are slightly out of sync, your brain is forced to overcompensate, straining to align the images and causing symptoms of binocular vision dysfunction.

Key Causes of Binocular Vision Dysfunction

Congenital Eye Misalignment

For some people, binocular vision dysfunction is present at birth. Slight muscular imbalances in the eyes can cause alignment issues that persist throughout a person’s life unless treated. Sometimes the symptoms don’t appear until adulthood when the eye muscles weaken further.

Head Injuries & Trauma

Head injuries, including concussions and whiplash, are common contributors to eye misalignment. Trauma can disrupt the balance between the eye muscles and the brain’s ability to coordinate them, leading to lasting misalignment even after the injury has healed.

Eye Muscle Weakness or Imbalance

As we age, the muscles around the eyes can weaken, leading to gradual misalignment. Weak or unevenly functioning muscles can make it difficult for your eyes to work together effectively, especially during tasks that require intense focus, such as reading or driving.

How Stress & Fatigue Affect Binocular Vision

When your eyes are slightly misaligned, stress and fatigue can worsen the symptoms of BVD. When you’re tired or anxious, your brain can struggle to compensate for the misalignment, intensifying discomfort.

People often notice their symptoms worsening after long periods of screen time or physically demanding days. Taking breaks and managing stress levels can provide temporary relief, but proper treatment is usually necessary for lasting improvement.

A person suffering from a headache after a long period of time working on their computer

Diagnosing Binocular Vision Dysfunction

Diagnosing BVD often requires a comprehensive eye exam, where your optometrist can evaluate your eye health and recognize subtle misalignments. Unlike standard eye exams, these evaluations look specifically at how well your eyes work as a team.

Tools such as advanced imaging and alignment measurements can detect even minute discrepancies that could be causing your symptoms. Once identified, the right treatment plan can usually bring significant relief.

How Is Binocular Vision Dysfunction Treated?

Neurolens uses contoured prism technology to correct eye misalignment, improve visual coordination, and restore your comfort. The prisms alter light’s pathway to help your brain merge two images from each eye into a single, cohesive view.

This process reduces the strain on your eyes and can alleviate symptoms associated with eye misalignment, such as:

  • Headaches and migraines
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Dizziness
  • Light sensitivity
  • Eye strain and fatigue
  • Dry eyes

The Neurolens Assessment

The Neurolens evaluation begins with an eye exam that includes:

  • Discussing your visual symptoms and device usage
  • Checking for any underlying eye issues
  • Evaluating your eye teaming and focusing abilities

This comprehensive assessment helps determine the extent of your symptoms and the severity of your misalignment. Neurolens offers a personalized solution to help you achieve your vision goals and needs.

Tips for Managing Binocular Vision Dysfunction

While proper treatment is key, there are steps you can take to manage your symptoms day-to-day:

  • Take frequent breaks from tasks that require sustained focus, like reading or viewing screens.
  • Use proper lighting to reduce eye strain, especially when working for long periods.
  • Practice stress management techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, to help your visual system relax. 
  • Consider ergonomic adjustments, such as proper chair height and monitor placement, to make your workspace more comfortable for your eyes.

Get Help with BVD

Are you experiencing headaches, eye strain, or light sensitivity? Eye misalignment may be causing your uncomfortable symptoms. Proper treatment can make a big difference in your comfort and overall eye health.Contact Total Vision Financial District to book an appointment. We can help detect and address BVD to restore your visual comfort.

Written by Total Vision

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