A concussion is an injury to the brain which can disrupt the way the brain normally sends signals affecting endless processes such as cognition, memory, emotions, hormones, vestibular and of course vision.
Although it is often overlooked, so many common concussion symptoms are actually visual. Sometimes the hardest-to-describe, lingering symptoms that just won’t go away are tied to your eyes and how your brain processes vision.
What Symptoms Are “Obviously” Visual?
Some are pretty clear:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Light sensitivity
- Eye pain or fatigue
But Did You Know These Can Be Visual Too?
This is where it gets tricky—there are symptoms you might not connect to your eyes at all, like:
- Feeling overwhelmed in grocery stores or crowded places
- Headaches that just won’t quit
- Nausea or dizziness with patterns or busy environments
- Motion sensitivity
- Trouble concentrating or remembering what you just read
- Balance problems
- Carsickness
- Symptoms flaring up when scrolling on your phone
These are all signs that your eyes and brain aren’t working smoothly together after the injury. Since vision makes up more than 80% of how we take in the world, if it’s off, everything else feels off too. No wonder school, work, or even everyday errands can feel exhausting.
Why Vision Symptoms Are So Common After Concussion
Here’s the big reason: over half of the brain is involved in vision. So even if the eyes themselves weren’t injured, the brain pathways that control eye coordination, movement, and processing can be disrupted. That’s why concussions so often leave people with visual challenges.
Can This Be Treated?
There is good news! The brain is incredibly adaptable. With the right approach, we can retrain the visual system and reduce symptoms.
Just like each concussion is unique the resulting challenges are as well. Treatment plans need to be tailored. Our doctors will need to assess your eyes health, measure visual skills, and consider the demands of your life before deciding the best course of action.
Treatment may include things like:
- Specialized lenses or prisms to reduce strain and restore balance
- Vision therapy (like rehab for the eyes and brain) to rebuild visual skills
- Personalized strategies to make daily life easier during recovery
- Team care, working alongside physiotherapists, physicians, and other providers
If you or someone you know is struggling with persisting symptoms after a concussion, please don’t suffer longer than you need to. Watching our patients go from feeling frustrated and limited by their symptoms, to regaining comfort and confidence in their daily life is some of our most treasured memories. Contact our office for a comprehensive assessment and discuss with our doctors so we can help create a path toward recovery.
“The human brain has an incredible capacity to adapt, to change, and to heal—sometimes we just need to give it the right tools and support.” – Norman Doidge, M.D.