When you experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI), whether it’s a diagnosed concussion, a seemingly minor bump, or a severe head trauma, your brain’s delicate visual-balance system can be knocked out of alignment. That visual misalignment is called Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD), and it often shows up as dizziness, headaches, brain fog, or “swimming” words on the page while reading. At NeuroVisual Specialists of Florida, we use custom prism lenses to realign the eyes, calm the brain, and accelerate healing for patients of every age and background.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion
What Happens in a TBI?
A TBI disrupts how the brain processes information. Even a mild concussion can trigger physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms – headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and blurred or double vision are among the most common.
Silent TBIs Are More Common Than You Think
Many people never realize they’ve had a concussion. We frequently see:
- Older adults who fall at home or in public.
- Assault or domestic-violence survivors who may delay seeking treatment.
- Athletes or weekend warriors who “shake it off” and return to play.
When these injuries are not formally diagnosed, lingering BVD symptoms can persist for months or years, until the root cause is addressed.
The Vision Link: Why Head Trauma Leads to BVD
What Is Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
Normally, your brain fuses the images from both eyes into a single, clear picture. A concussion can cause microscopic changes in the eye-muscle control centers, leaving the eyes slightly misaligned. That mismatch forces the brain to work overtime, leading to:
- Dizziness or unsteadiness
- Difficulty focusing or tracking lines of text
- Brain fog and fatigue
- Headaches, neck pain, and light sensitivity
These symptoms often overlap with classic post-concussion signs, making BVD easy to overlook.
Evidence for the Vision-Brain Connection
In a study of TBI patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms, 77 out of 83 were found to have a specific form of BVD called vertical heterophoria. Personalized prism lenses significantly reduced their symptom burden. A recent consensus on visual rehabilitation after mild TBI likewise highlights prism and vision therapy as key treatment pillars.
How Prism Glasses Calm the Brain and Accelerate Healing
Prism lenses subtly bend incoming light so that images land where your eyes naturally rest. By doing the “alignment work” for your eye muscles, prism:
- Reduces neural overload – Less visual strain means fewer headaches, less dizziness, and clearer focus.
- Re-balances the vestibular system – When your eyes and inner ear agree on where you are in space, balance improves.
- Creates a calmer healing environment – With the visual system in harmony, the brain can allocate more energy to overall recovery instead of constant compensation.
Learn more about our prism approach in How Prismatic Lenses in Glasses Work.
Who We Help
Older Adults After Falls
Even a single fall can jolt the brain. If you or a loved one now feels unsteady, anxious about walking, or finds reading exhausting, an eye-alignment issue could be the missing link.
Patients With Undiagnosed Head Trauma
Maybe you walked away from a fender-bender, sports collision, or childhood accident thinking, “I was fine.” If chronic brain fog and visual discomfort followed, let’s explore whether BVD is at play.
Survivors of Assault and Domestic Violence
Head trauma from assault is often under-reported. We provide a safe, compassionate environment to evaluate visual-vestibular function and relieve symptoms that can compound emotional recovery.
Our Neuro-Visual Evaluation Process
Our comprehensive neuro-visual assessment goes far beyond a standard eye exam. Dr. Sonneberg measures subtle eye-muscle imbalances, tests your visual-vestibular reflexes, and fits trial prism lenses so you can feel the difference in real time. Many patients notice a 30-50% symptom reduction in-office.
Learn what to expect during a Neuro-Visual Evaluation.
Take the First Step Toward Clearer Vision and a Calmer Mind
If you’re living with dizziness, brain fog, or words that just won’t stay still on the page–whether or not you were formally diagnosed with a concussion–we can help. Complete our quick online Binocular Vision Dysfunction Questionnaire to see if you’re a candidate for prism treatment, or call (561) 733-9008 to schedule your neuro-visual evaluation today.
Together, we’ll realign your sight, quiet your brain, and put you back on the path to full recovery.
Dr. Erin Sonneberg
Dr. Erin Sonneberg, OD, received her Doctor of Optometry degree from New England School of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts in 2004. She completed her undergraduate studies at City University of New York, Queens College in 2000, where she graduated with honors in business. Dr. Sonneberg relocated to Boynton Beach, Florida, in 2006, and has been practicing alongside prestigious ophthalmologists in the area since that time.
