Are You Suffering From Headaches After a Concussion or Stroke? This Can Be Directly Related to Your Vision

Headaches and migraines are common problems seen following a stroke, concussion, or other traumatic brain injury. While there can be several direct causes of these symptoms following an injury due to sustained damage, one that can be overlooked is damage to the visual system.

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Are You Suffering From Headaches After a Concussion or Stroke? This Can Be Directly Related to Your Vision Videos

Headaches and migraines after concussions or stroke
Amplify EyeCare Santa Clarita
Dr. Carl Garbus

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How Can Damage to the Visual System From a Traumatic Brain Injury Cause Headaches or Migraines?

Following a traumatic brain injury, the ocular muscles may need to exert additional effort in order to compensate for damage done to the visual system as a result of the trauma.

This extra effort often leads to eye strain, which in turn causes pain around the temples and forehead similar to a migraine. As a result, it is often incorrectly assumed that one is suffering from a standard tension headache or a migraine.

This is important, since a headache caused by eye strain requires a different treatment than a tension headache or migraine. For most headaches caused by visual problems, correcting that problem will alleviate the symptoms, if not eliminate them entirely.

How is a Diagnosis Made?

The best way to receive an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your headaches or migraines is to see our neuro-optometrist for a functional eye exam. This goes much more in depth than a standard eye exam can, and will be able to tell you with certainty whether you have a vision issue that may be causing your headaches. The results of this exam will also assist our doctor in understanding the underlying cause of your symptoms and create an effective treatment plan.

How Does Treatment Work?

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy consists of highly individualized treatment, based on your unique situation. Treatment plans generally include exercises which will help you retrain your brain-eye connection so as to correct any damage done during your injury. A treatment plan may also include specialized lenses, prisms, and syntonics designed to ease your headaches.

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How Long Does Treatment Take?

Length of treatment varies on a case-by-case basis, depending on individual situations. However, even in cases where it takes longer, you should start seeing improvements early in the process. Our neuro-optometrist will go over the length and strategy for your treatment during the functional eye exam.

Eye Care You Can Trust - Choose an Amplify EyeCare Optometrist Today

Amplify EyeCare is a team of a passionate and experienced optometrists practicing eye care at the cutting edge of technology and vision science. We are growing with new locations coming across the US.

Visit a Neuro optometrist at an Amplify EyeCare practice near you:

Amplify EyeCare Santa Clarita in Santa Clarita, California
Amplify EyeCare of Greater Long Beach in Bellflower, California
Amplify EyeCare Chattanooga in Hixson, Tennessee
American Family Vision Clinic in Olympia, Washington

Common Questions

Can concussion affect your eyesight?

Yes, a concussion can indeed affect your eyesight. Post-concussion vision syndrome is a group of visual disorders that occur after a traumatic brain injury like a concussion. Patients may experience blurred vision, difficulty focusing, sensitivity to light, and problems with visual processing. This is because a concussion can disrupt the neural pathways between the eyes and the brain.

Are headaches related to concussion?

Headaches are a common symptom associated with concussions. Following a concussion, the brain needs to heal and recover, during which individuals may experience persistent headaches. These headaches can vary in their nature, being sharp, dull, constant, intermittent, or resembling migraines. If you're experiencing headaches post-concussion, it's essential to consult with healthcare professionals to ensure proper management and treatment.

What are the symptoms of eyesight after a concussion?

After a concussion, patients might experience blurred or double vision, difficulties with eye movement, issues with depth perception, or sensitivity to light. Problems with reading and challenges in visually complex environments might also occur. Additionally, a neuro optometrist might identify visual processing problems, where interpreting visual information becomes difficult. These symptoms can persist as part of post-concussion syndrome and may require specialized treatment from an eye specialist.

Summary

Headaches and migraines are common symptoms experienced after strokes, concussions, or other traumatic brain injuries. While there can be several root causes due to damage sustained, damage to the visual system is one possibility which is too often overlooked. In cases where headaches experienced following a stroke or other traumatic brain injury are caused by issues with the visual system, they can often be eliminated by treating the underlying vision issue. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy is an extremely effective treatment for these issues. If you are experiencing headaches or migraine following a stroke or other traumatic brain injury, you can reach out to your nearest Amplify EyeCare practice either via a call or in-person visit to schedule a functional vision exam. Our team of eye care professionals is ready and equipped to provide you with the care you need.