Binocular Vision Disorders

Binocular vision dysfunction means your eyes are not synchronized and working together correctly. When you suffer from binocular vision dysfunction, you may not be able to see one image clearly. Instead, you may have double vision, problems reading, or dizziness.

With binocular vision dysfunction, your eyes are sending images to the brain which are slightly different. Your eyes may be in different positions and the brain does not respond well to this, forcing the eyes to align the muscles to realign the eyes, but this is only temporary. This often makes the brain feel that everything is moving and causes a significant amount of strain on the eyes.

The lack of symmetry of the face may also be a cause of binocular vision dysfunction. This can occur over time as we age and the muscles of the eyes weaken. The more the eyes are used can lead them to be overworked and also suffer from this dysfunction. As a result, your eyes may become sore and tired. This can lead to headaches and pain in the face. You may also have light sensitivity, problems with glare and/or a reduction of depth perception.

You may also have other symptoms, such as leaning to one side when you walk, motion sickness, feel disoriented or have sudden and random falls. When you suffer from binocular vision dysfunction, it can impact every aspect of your life. Find treatment for your vision disorder at the Vision and Learning Center.

Convergence insufficiency often goes undiagnosed because a person can pass a typical 20/20 eye chart test and still have it. We recommend your child have an eye exam before they are 6-years-old. A simple eye exam at their school is not in-depth enough to diagnose convergence insufficiency.

Many individuals who suffer from convergence insufficiency in Collegeville, PA don’t complain of symptoms because the brain will ignore the input of one eye to avoid double vision. This vision suppression causes the loss of both binocular vision and depth perception. This has a negative impact on coordination, ability to play sports, distance judgment, eye contact, and motion sickness.

At the Vision Learning Center, we can help those with convergence insufficiency in PA, NJ, and DE. We have the latest technology in vision therapy to help treat this condition. Within our vision therapy program, we use Vivid Vision. This technology combines interactive exercises with vision assessments, giving children the chance to play while training their brains correctly.

While any patient with convergence insufficiency in NJ, DE, or PA can start vision therapy, we recommend that they do so as early as possible. Your brain can learn new patterns, including new ways of seeing, when you are younger. If you believe that you have a child with convergence insufficiency in DE, NJ, or PA, bring them to the Vision Learning Center. We’ll help treat this issue so that they no longer feel its negative effects. Call our experienced team today for a free 15-minute consultation.

Here at Vision and Learning Center, we provide pediatric eye exams and treatment techniques to help your little ones see as well as they can. Here are some of the common vision problems that kids often face, along with their possible solutions:

Strabismus - Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes do not quite line up precisely. One or both eyes may turn outward or inward. This can cause blurred or double vision or lead to a functional issue known as amblyopia. Vision therapy exercises, prism lenses or, in severe cases, surgery can remedy strabismus.

Ptosis - Ptosis occurs when drooping eye skin or a drooping eyelid obscures part of the eye. This can interfere with vision in the affected eye, potentially leading to amblyopia as a result. If your child has ptosis, treatment of underlying causes (such as neurological disorders) or corrective surgery may be recommended.

Nystagmus - Nystagmus is a problem where the eyeballs vibrate or oscillate involuntarily. It may stem from a congenital condition, neuromuscular disorder or severe refractive error. Corrective lenses and accommodative technologies for low vision can help some children, while others may need treatment for the underlying causes. One type of nystagmus, known as spasmus nutans, develops in infants or toddlers, then will resolve itself later in childhood.

Strabismus can cause amblyopia. When the eyes don’t work together and one points in a different direction, the brain receives two different visual images. Your brain may ignore the image from the misaligned eye to avoid double vision. However, this results in underdeveloped vision, which can cause serious reading and learning problems later on in life.

There are two different kinds of strabismus:

• Esotropia, in which one or both eyes turn inward. The condition can be constantly present or occur intermittently. It can give the affected individual a "cross-eyed" appearance.
• Exotropia, in which one or both eyes turn outward. This is the opposite of crossed eyes.

Another symptom of strabismus is double vision. When the eyes don’t orient the same direction and receive two sets of information, you may see double or "ghost" images. When your eyes point in two directions, either your brain receives two sets of input or it shuts one eye off and only takes in input from the other eye. Double vision occurs when your brain continues to get input from both the eyes.

Strabismus can be present in very young children and babies, due to their new and developing visual systems. It is influenced by genetics, so if your family has a history of strabismus, your child is more likely to develop it. It can be detected in any wellness checkup, but it is recommended that all children have a formal vision screening in their preschool years.

Strabismus, when detected early, can be treated, with no long-term effects.

Normally, children have plenty of ability when it comes to focusing their eyes. However, some do not have the ability to maintain focus for a long time while reading or may be unable to quickly change the focus of their eyes from near to distance to near, etc.

Accommodative dysfunctions can cause:

• Blurred vision
• Reduced accuracy
• Posture and viewing distance adjustments
• Inconsistent work
• Reduced efficiency and productivity
• Difficulty maintaining clear vision
• Difficulty shifting focus from one distance to another
• Visual discomfort and eye strain
• Pain in or around the eye
• Headaches
• Avoidance of reading and writing
• Difficulty with visual concentration and attention
• Fatigue
• Moving print

Adults can also have accommodative dysfunction. However, this is not the same as a very common visual condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia is the term for age-related focusing problems. In adults, these problems are due to loss of the natural elasticity of the lens inside the eyes. As we age, the lenses become less flexible and we start to experience blurred vision at close distances.

Oculomotor dysfunction (OMD) is a common vision problem and occurs in people of all ages. This disorder affects reading, sports, balance and depth perception, as well as most visually related tasks. Oculomotor dysfunction is not a condition that you "outgrow." Instead, over time, an individual develops compensatory techniques, such as turning their head while reading, rather than the head remaining stationary, while the eyes move across the page of text.

Oculomotor dysfunction (aka ocular motility dysfunction) is characterized by a deficiency in one or more of the following visual skills:

• Fixation: The ability to "hold" the eyes steady without moving off of the target.
• Pursuit eye movements: The ability of the eyes to correctly follow a moving target.
  
• Saccadic eye movements: The ability of the eyes to accurately "jump" from one target to another.

• Difficulty reading
• Poor reading comprehension
  
• Poor reading speed