Vision Problems from Lyme Disease: How lyme disease can affect your vision and what a neuro-optometrist can do to help.

Are you experiencing vision problems as a result of Lyme disease? A Neuro-Optometrist can help. Lyme disease can affect the connection between your eyes and brain, leading to issues with balance, vision, and depth perception. Our team uses a variety of treatments, including lenses, low vision aids, prisms, and neuro-vision therapy to alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life.

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Vision Problems from Lyme Disease: How lyme disease can affect your vision and what a neuro-optometrist can do to help. Optometrist

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How does Lyme Disease impact vision?

As a neuro-optometry practice who have helped many patients with Lyme disease, we know that this tick-borne illness can have a devastating impact on vision. In the early stages of the disease, patients may experience visual symptoms such as blurriness, double vision, and headaches associated with visual activities. They may also experience more obscure problems like difficulty with balance and spatial orientation, memory and comprehension, as well as sensitivity to sound and feeling overwhelmed in busy, crowded environments.

Is blurry, fuzzy, or double vision impacting your quality of life and vision? Take our online double vision assessment to help identify if you may have an underlying vision problem that is causing diplopia (double vision)

As the disease progresses, inflammation of the eye can develop, potentially affecting the uvea, cornea, iris, and choroid. This can lead to light sensitivity and floaters, and can make daily activities such as reading and driving difficult.

But it's not just the physical symptoms that can be affected. Research has also shown that when the visual process is compromised by tick-borne disease, patients may develop compensatory habits in order to attempt to function with their compromised vision. This can put strain on the body that will lead to fatigue, discomfort and compromise of higher visual-perceptual processing associated with memory and cognitive function.

As neuro-optometrists, we have a variety of methods to help patients with the visual disturbances caused by Lyme disease. Utilizing lenses, low vision aids, prisms and, in some situations, neuro-vision therapy, I can help improve a patient's vision, balance.

Why Early Intervention is Critical for Children Diagnosed with Lyme Disease: The Importance of Visiting a Neuro-Optometrist

As a local neuro-optometrist with experience treating patients with Lyme disease, it is important to stress the importance of visiting our practice if your child has been diagnosed with this condition. While medical treatment may address the physical symptoms of Lyme disease, it does not always resolve the visual problems that can occur as a result of the disease. Without proper treatment, these visual problems can continue to affect your child's development and learning.

At our practice, we specialize in neuro-optometric rehabilitation, utilizing methods such as lenses, prisms, visual aids, and vision therapy to address the visual disturbances caused by Lyme disease. This rehabilitative intervention is specifically designed to re-establish balance in visual processing and address any compensatory behaviors that may have developed as a result of the compromised vision.

Dr. Padula, a leading expert in the field of neuro optometry, emphasizes that it is crucial to provide an in-depth visual evaluation for children with Lyme disease as soon as possible to avoid any interference with their development. By visiting our practice, you can ensure that your child receives the specialized care they need to fully recover from the visual effects of Lyme disease.

Why Early Intervention is Critical for Children Diagnosed with Lyme Disease: The Importance of Visiting a Neuro-Optometrist

Lyme disease can affect the eyes in a number of ways, leading to a range of ocular complications. Some of the most common ways that Lyme disease can affect vision include:

Conjunctivitis: This is inflammation of the thin, clear membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the whites of the eyes. Symptoms can include redness, itching, and discharge.

Keratitis: This is an inflammation of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. Symptoms can include redness, pain, light sensitivity, and blurry vision.

Uveitis: This is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea. Symptoms can include redness, pain, light sensitivity, and floaters.

Optic neuritis: This is an inflammation of the optic nerve, which carries information from the eye to the brain. Symptoms can include vision loss, pain with eye movement, and color vision changes.

Light sensitivity: Sensitive to light? It could be a symptom of Lyme disease. Many patients with Lyme disease experience light sensitivity as a side effect of the disease itself or as a result of the antibiotics used to treat it. Our team of neuro-optometrists can help alleviate this symptom and improve your quality of life.

In rare cases, Lyme disease can also lead to more serious complications such as posterior uveitis, which can result in cystoid macular edema, choroiditis and retinal vasculitis, resulting in vision loss.

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Medical eye care for vision impairment caused by Lyme disease: why see your neuro optometrist

It may be beneficial to see our neuro-optometrist if your vision is affected due to Lyme disease for several reasons:

Specialized training

Our neuro-optometrist is an optometrist who has additional training in the diagnosis and management of visual problems caused by neurological conditions, such as Lyme disease. We have a specialized understanding of the complex relationship between the visual system and the nervous system, which can be particularly useful in managing vision problems caused by Lyme disease.

Comprehensive evaluation

We will conduct a comprehensive neuro optometric evaluation of your vision and eye movements, including visual acuity, color vision, visual fields, and the coordination of your eyes. We will also evaluate the function of the nerves that control the eyes, which is important in understanding the impact of Lyme disease on the visual system. Furthermore we spend time understanding how vision is impacting your balance, gait, spatial awareness, visual perception and a variety of other factors that may have been impacted by lyme disease.

Customized treatment

Our neuro-optometrist will be able to provide customized treatment plans to address the specific vision problems caused by Lyme disease. We may use a combination of exercises, prisms, and other therapies to help improve vision and reduce symptoms.

Coordination with other specialists

We will work closely with other specialists such as neurologists, occupational and physical therapists, infectious disease specialists, and primary care physicians to ensure that you receive the most comprehensive and coordinated care possible.

Continual monitoring

Treatment does not end after your first visit, we will be able to monitor your vision and eye health over time to ensure that your treatment is working, and to detect any changes that may require additional treatment or follow-up. Our neuro optometrist will track your progress and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed, to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Exceptional Eye Care is Just a Click Away With Amplify EyeCare

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 vision clinic 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

How can I protect myself from Lyme disease?

To protect yourself from Lyme disease, use insect repellent with DEET or permethrin, wear protective clothing, avoid tick-infested areas, check for ticks after being outdoors, use tick-control products, and talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated. Be aware of symptoms and seek medical attention if you suspect you have been infected.

How common is Lyme disease?

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), In 2020, there were an estimated 38,000 cases of Lyme disease in the United States. However, it is important to note that this number is likely an underestimate, as many cases go unreported. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. The disease is named after the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, where a number of cases were first identified in the 1970s. Symptoms of Lyme disease typically appear within 3 to 30 days of a tick bite.

Can Lyme disease cause vision problems?

Indeed, Lyme disease can lead to various vision problems. It is a systemic disease that can affect multiple organs, including the eyes. Patients may experience symptoms like blurred or double vision, floaters, or light sensitivity. A neuro optometrist can provide a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for these vision disturbances.

Can Lyme disease damage the optic nerve?

In some cases, Lyme disease can cause inflammation of the optic nerve, a condition known as optic neuritis. This can lead to symptoms such as visual impairment and pain during eye movement. If Lyme disease is suspected to have affected the optic nerve, immediate consultation with an eye specialist is advised.

Can Lyme disease cause cloudy vision?

Cloudy vision is not a typical symptom of Lyme disease, but it can occur. This might be due to overall inflammation caused by the disease or specific eye conditions such as uveitis. If a person with Lyme disease experiences cloudy vision or any other unusual eye symptoms, it's recommended they seek a neuro optometry assessment.

Vision Problems from Lyme Disease: How lyme disease can affect your vision and what a neuro-optometrist can do to help.

Schedule a Neuro Optometric Evaluation For Lyme Disease

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Lyme disease and is experiencing vision issues, it's important to schedule a neuro optometric evaluation as soon as possible. Our neuro optometrist is specially trained to identify and treat the visual symptoms associated with Lyme disease, such as double vision, visual distortion, and light sensitivity. With the right treatment and management, your neuro optometrist can help improve your visual function and quality of life.