Neuro-optometric rehabilitation focuses on improving the visual skills affected by neurological injury or disease. Treatment is based on how your visual system functions—not simply how clearly you see.
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation in East Orlando
QUICK LINKS
Visual Health & Learning Center
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is specifically designed for patients whose visual problems developed after a neurological injury or condition. It addresses the communication changes between the eyes and brain caused by events such as concussion, stroke, or TBI.
Whether your symptoms developed recently or have been affecting you for a long time, a neuro-optometric evaluation can help. Some patients come to us months or years after the original injury because visual problems were not identified earlier.
Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, double vision, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, motion sensitivity, poor balance, difficulty reading, visual fatigue, and light sensitivity. These symptoms often interfere with work, driving, reading, and other everyday activities.
During your neuro-optometric evaluation, our eye doctors assess eye alignment, eye movements, eye teaming, focusing, visual processing, binocular vision, and functional visual performance. This allows us to identify which visual skills have been affected and recommend treatment.
Yes. More than half of stroke survivors experience some type of vision problem. A neuro-optometric evaluation helps determine which visual skills have been affected and whether rehabilitation may help improve function.
The purpose of neuro-optometric rehabilitation is to reduce visual symptoms so everyday activities become easier — reading, working, driving, shopping, using a computer, and spending time with family.
Insurance coverage varies depending on your individual plan and the services you receive. Please contact our office before your appointment and we'll be happy to discuss the information available to help you prepare.
Vision Problems Can Continue Long After a Brain Injury
Many people recover from a concussion, stroke, or other neurological condition only to discover that reading, driving, computer work, and everyday activities still don't feel the same. You may experience headaches, dizziness, double vision, difficulty focusing, motion sensitivity, or visual fatigue—even though your eyes appear healthy.
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation helps strengthen visual skills affected by neurological injury, so you can use your vision more comfortably in everyday life. Patients searching for behavioral optometrists near them who specialize in post-injury vision care will find that our doctors are trained specifically in neuro-optometric rehabilitation.
Many Neurological Conditions Can Affect Vision
Vision problems may develop after a variety of neurological conditions. Our eye doctors evaluate patients for the following:
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Stroke
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Sports injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Other acquired brain injuries
Every patient's symptoms are different, which is why every rehabilitation program begins with a comprehensive evaluation.
Your Eyes and Brain Work Together Every Second
When a neurological injury changes those connections, the visual system may no longer work as efficiently as it once did. That's why some patients continue to experience vision problems even after other symptoms begin to improve. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation focuses on strengthening these visual skills to improve visual comfort, functional vision, and independence.
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Helps Strengthen Functional Vision
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is designed to improve the visual skills needed for everyday life. Depending on your examination findings, treatment may help improve:
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Binocular vision dysfunction
- Eye tracking
- Focusing
- Visual scanning
- Eye teaming
- Visual comfort
- Visual endurance.
The goal is to help you perform daily activities more comfortably and independently. The vision therapy benefits for neurological patients can be significant; programs may also incorporate optometric multi-sensory training to address how the brain integrates visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive information.
Many Neurological Conditions Can Affect Vision
Vision problems may develop after a variety of neurological conditions—not only concussion. Our eye doctors evaluate patients following the conditions listed below.
Every patient's symptoms are different, which is why every rehabilitation program begins with a comprehensive evaluation.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that can disrupt the visual system, causing symptoms such as headaches, blurred or double vision, difficulty focusing, and light sensitivity.
Traumatic brain injuries range from mild to severe and frequently affect the pathways between the eyes and brain, resulting in a wide range of visual symptoms that may persist long after the injury.
More than half of stroke survivors experience some form of vision problem. A stroke can affect visual processing, eye movement, depth perception, and visual awareness depending on which areas of the brain are involved.
The force of a motor vehicle accident can cause head trauma that disrupts visual processing, even when no direct eye injury occurs. Visual symptoms may develop immediately or emerge gradually in the days following the accident.
Athletes who sustain head impacts during contact sports are at risk for concussion and other neurological injuries that can affect the visual system. Early evaluation is important to support a safe return to activity.
Head trauma resulting from physical assault can cause neurological injuries that affect vision. Patients may experience a range of visual symptoms depending on the location and severity of the injury.
Cerebral palsy can affect the neural pathways that control eye movement, teaming, and visual processing. Many individuals with cerebral palsy benefit from neuro-optometric evaluation to address functional vision difficulties.
Parkinson's disease can cause changes in eye movement control, contrast sensitivity, and visual processing. These visual changes can affect reading, mobility, and everyday tasks.
Multiple sclerosis can affect the optic nerves and visual pathways, leading to symptoms such as blurred vision, double vision, eye pain, and difficulty with visual endurance. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help address functional visual changes associated with MS.
Diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerves that control eye movement and visual function. Patients may experience double vision, difficulty focusing, or other visual symptoms related to neurological changes caused by diabetes.
Acquired brain injuries from causes such as infection, lack of oxygen, or toxic exposure can also affect the visual system. A comprehensive neuro-optometric evaluation can help identify which visual skills have been affected and guide an appropriate rehabilitation plan.
Everyday Activities Can Become More Difficult After a Brain Injury
Many patients notice changes when they return to normal daily activities. Reading may require much more effort. Computer work becomes exhausting. Busy environments feel overwhelming. Driving may become uncomfortable. These changes often affect quality of life because vision is involved in nearly everything we do throughout the day.
Acquired Brain Injuries Often Affect the Visual System
Treatment May Include More Than One Approach
Every rehabilitation program begins with a thorough evaluation because no two patients experience the same visual challenges.
Depending on your symptoms and examination findings, your treatment plan may include vision therapy, prism therapy, prescription lenses, eye patching when appropriate, or home reinforcement activities. Every recommendation is based on how your visual system functions, the activities that are most important to you, and your rehabilitation goals.
A vision therapy program for neuro-optometric rehabilitation is often coordinated alongside vision therapy and occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech therapy as part of a broader multidisciplinary care team.