March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
Every year in the United States, 2.4 million people sustain brain injuries as a result of sports injuries, auto accidents, falls, strokes, disease or other injuries. Of those injured, 475,000 are children.1
With approximately three-quarters of the brain involved in the receiving and processing of information, visual problems are a very common side effect of traumatic brain injuries. In fact, research has shown that up to 80 percent of individuals will develop a vision problem following such an injury.2
But while many of these individuals require rehabilitation to overcome physical challenges, it’s not uncommon for their associated visual problems to go untreated. Unfortunately, many of these individuals are told that their vision problems will go away in time, or that they simply need to learn to live with their symptoms, which may include:
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Headaches
- Dizziness and nausea
- Loss of place while reading
- Attention and concentration difficulties
While permanent vision problems can result from a traumatic brain injury, most are treatable through vision rehabilitation. Performed under the guidance of a Neuro-Optometrist/Developmental Optometrist, visual rehabilitation can help brain injury patients re-develop the visual skills they need to read, learn and perform other daily tasks.
If you or someone you know has suffered a traumatic brain injury, it’s critical to make an appointment to have your vision evaluated by a Neuro-Optometrist/Developmental Optometrist. If you’re interested in reviewing a full list of common visual symptoms, see our Signs & Symptoms checklist.
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