Brain Injury

When is Blurred Vision a Medical Emergency?

by Russ Lazarus May 3, 2021

Almost everyone experiences blurry vision. If a headache occurs with or causes blurred vision, it may be due to an underlying condition or medical emergency.

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2021 Update: Treatments for BVD

by Russ Lazarus April 25, 2021

Up to 20% of the world’s population suffers from Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD).  What is BVD? Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is caused by the two

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2021 Update: Lazy Eye and Adults

by Russ Lazarus April 25, 2021

Lazy eye is estimated to affect up to 5% of all adults. For many decades, it has been thought that only children under the age

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What Are Visual Efficiency Problems?

by Russ Lazarus April 13, 2021

Poor visual efficiency skills can negatively impact performance in school, at the office, and on the sports field. Understanding and knowing what to look out for can help with early detection and treatment of visual problems – leading to improved school grades and sports achievements.

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Eyes and Obesity

by Russ Lazarus February 18, 2021

Obesity is a global medical epidemic, research clearly shows the direct correlation between obesity and eye diseases. Studies show that obesity increases the risk of

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BVD and Motion Sickness

by Russ Lazarus February 17, 2021

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is a condition where the eyes are misaligned and the visual system struggles to send one clear image to the brain. BVD can cause dizziness and motion sickness due to the visual system’s difficulties in fusing together the images from each eye.

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What Are Eye Flashes?

by Russ Lazarus February 14, 2021

Have you ever been startled by the appearance of small flashes of light out of the corner of your eye? Eye flashes When eye flashes

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Feeling Anxious? You May Have a Vision Problem

by Russel Lazarus February 7, 2021

Anxiety disorders affect millions of people each year. But did you know that certain vision problems can actually trigger anxious thoughts and feelings? Binocular vision

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Tinted Lenses for Color Blindness

by Russel Lazarus February 6, 2021

An estimated 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women has some degree of color blindness. Color blindness is not an actual blindness, but

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Stanford University: Concussions and Oculo-Motor Dysfunction

by Russel Lazarus January 31, 2021

This month, a presentation was given by Dr. Jamshid Ghajar, MD, PhD, FACS at the Stanford Brain Performance Center (Department of Neurosurgery and Stanford Athletics),

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Are You Suffering From Post-Concussion Symptoms? 

by Russel Lazarus January 26, 2021

Up to 90 percent of people experience post-concussion symptoms for many years… until they receive effective treatment from a neuro-optometrist.  Post traumatic vision syndrome (PTVS)

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Meniere’s Disease

by Russel Lazarus January 23, 2021

Meniere’s disease affects 2 in 1000 adults and over 45,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. What is Meniere’s disease? Meniere’s disease is an inner

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Sixth Nerve Palsy

by Russel Lazarus January 23, 2021

Sixth nerve palsy, also called abducens nerve palsy, is a rare condition that occurs when the sixth cranial nerve, also called the abducens nerve, becomes damaged.

Each year, around 11 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with sixth nerve palsy. 

The sixth cranial nerve is responsible for sending signals to the lateral rectus muscle. When the sixth cranial nerve becomes damaged, it prevents the lateral rectus muscle from operating and results in an inward eye turn (esotropia) and double vision.

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Third Nerve Palsy

by Russel Lazarus January 23, 2021

Third Nerve Palsy, also called Oculomotor Palsy, occurs when the third cranial nerve becomes injured or diseased.
The third cranial nerve controls the actions of four external eye muscles. As the third cranial nerve controls many of the eye’s muscles and functions, palsy of this nerve can result in complete or partial paralysis of the eye.

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Fourth Nerve Palsy

by Russel Lazarus January 23, 2021

Fourth Nerve Palsy, also known as Superior Oblique Palsy or Trochlear Nerve Palsy, occurs when the fourth cranial nerve becomes diseased or damaged. The fourth cranial nerve controls the actions of the superior oblique eye muscle and is responsible for turning the eye inward and downward.

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What Is Neuroplasticity?

by Russel Lazarus January 23, 2021

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences. It was once thought that the nerve fibers in the

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Prism Lenses for Double Vision

by Russel Lazarus January 20, 2021

Double vision is a relatively common problem, and is responsible for 850,000 visits to the doctor and hospital each year. Double vision, also known as

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Light: A Form of Therapy?

by Aaron Nichols January 4, 2021

Author: Dr. Aaron Nichols Excel Neuro-Optometric Clinic Light therapy is now being used as a treatment to help people regain their quality of life following

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Nystagmus

by Russel Lazarus January 4, 2021

Nystagmus is an eye condition that causes repetitive involuntary eye movements. These movements can cause the eyes to move from side to side, up and down, or in circular motions. Nystagmus frequently leads to unsteady and impaired vision and depth perception which can cause poor balance and coordination.

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Visual Rehabilitation FAQs 

by Russel Lazarus January 4, 2021

These are the 10 most frequent questions asked to vision therapy eye doctors on vision therapy following a head injury. You may easily find answers to your questions below. If you still have questions, contact your nearest eye doctor experienced in TBIs, concussion and vision therapy

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Can a Stroke Cause Vision Problems? 

by Russel Lazarus January 4, 2021

Approximately 60 percent of stroke patients develop some form of visual impairment. A stroke occurs when there is an interruption of blood flow to the

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What Is Post-Traumatic Vision Syndrome? 

by Russel Lazarus January 4, 2021

Over 90 % of concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) result in some degree of visual dysfunction.  Post traumatic vision syndrome (PTVS) is the clinical

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How to Protect Yourself from a Brain Injury

by Russ Lazarus December 20, 2020

Over 47 percent of all TBIs are caused by falls, especially for adults over the age of 65. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can occur from

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Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuro-Optometry 

by Russ Lazarus December 20, 2020

What is a neuro-optometrist? Neuro-optometrists diagnose and treat visual problems related to neurological conditions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Through rehabilitative treatment, neuro-optometrists retrain and

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Concussion and Vision

by Aaron Nichols September 16, 2020

Author: Dr. Aaron Nichols Excel Neuro-Optometric Clinic The term concussion has become increasingly popular in the last several decades. The research behind the causes and

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On the Long Road to Recovery: Motion Sickness and TBI

by Aaron Nichols September 15, 2020

Author: Dr. Aaron Nichols Excel Neuro-Optometric Clinic Do you experience motion sickness while driving a car or motorcycle, or riding as a passenger?  Motion sickness

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Lighting Up the Room: Light Sensitivity Post-TBI 

by Aaron Nichols September 15, 2020

Author: Dr. Aaron Nichols Excel Neuro-Optometric Clinic Are you experiencing light sensitivity since your traumatic brain injury? Following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) there are

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Ocular Oncology

by Russ Lazarus June 1, 2020

What is ocular oncology? Ocular oncology involves the diagnosis and treatment of all tumors that occur in or around the eye— tumors of the eyelid,

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Guide to Dry Eye

by Russ Lazarus June 1, 2020

Do suffer with dry eyes? There are a range of very successful treatment now available that can offer you significant relief from your symptoms. The key is receiving the right diagnosis and appropriate advice from your eye doctor.

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What is Low Vision?

by Russ Lazarus June 1, 2020

Do you or a loved one have low vision? Low vision is diagnosed when vision cannot be fully corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery— allowing you to participate in every day activities. It is often accompanied by blurred vision, blind spots or tunnel vision— and may also be called legal blindness. Low vision may prevent you from driving, watching TV, reading, using a computer or participating in your favorite hobbies.

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Hypertropia or Hyperphoria?

by Russ Lazarus May 20, 2020

Hypertropia and hyperphoria are when the eyes are misaligned – one pointing higher than the other. Both these forms of eye turn can be well managed by optical lenses and vision therapy, often avoiding eye surgery.

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A Guide to Children’s Eye Diseases

by Russ Lazarus May 12, 2020

As your child grows older, annual exams are crucial to ensure that their eyes continue to develop normally, and to detect any changes in vision or ocular health. Importantly: vision screenings conducted by schools are not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam – ocular diseases and many vision problems cannot be identified through a screening.

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Neuro-Optometry

by Russ Lazarus May 12, 2020

Have you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion and still experiencing vision problems? TBIs can cause double vision, blurriness, headaches and eye strain, these can be successfully treated with a personalized vision therapy program.

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Vision for Special Needs

by Russ Lazarus May 12, 2020

Children with special needs have a high rate of visual problems and their lives can be enhanced with the correct eye care. Vision therapy has also been shown to improve the visual skills to improve eye contact and interactions with their surroundings – significantly enhancing their lives.

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Vision Therapy for Lazy Eye

by Russ Lazarus May 12, 2020

Lazy eye is a common vision problem, affecting up to 1 in 20 (5%) of all children. Has your child been treated for lazy eye, yet the vision remains poor? Lazy eye can be successfully treated for both children and adults, with new digital techniques using computer-based 3D games.

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Vision and Vestibular Dysfunction

by Russ Lazarus April 13, 2020

Do you often experience dizziness or feel as though the world is spinning around you (vertigo)?
Do you experience motion sickness, or a persistent sense of unsteadiness or imbalance? You may have an inner ear disturbance called Vestibular Dysfunction. The good news is that these symptoms can be significantly reduced with vision therapy, allowing you to regain your quality of life.

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Vision Problems from a Brain Injury

by Russ Lazarus April 13, 2020

Can a brain injury cause vision problems? Yes, any traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have significant visual consequences. During the initial treatment of a concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI), visual problems are often overlooked. Frequently, visual problems are hidden or neglected— lengthening and impacting rehabilitation.

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Vision Therapy for TBI Related Vision Conditions

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

How does a TBI affect vision? Vision is the most important source of sensory information. Consisting of a sophisticated complex of subsystems, the visual process

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Common Vision Problems Associated With a Brain Injury 

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

Over 10 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur annually, worldwide. Approximately 2.8 million, close to 1 in 100, Americans suffer a form of TBI every

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Vision Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injuries: Success Stories

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

Below are stories from children and adults who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their experiences with Vision Therapy. *Names have been altered

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Post Trauma Vision Syndrome

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

A Guide to Post Trauma Vision Syndrome Author: Dr. Allen Cohen OD, FCOVD Dr. Cohen is currently Clinical Professor of Optometry, SUNY State College of

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Vision, Dizziness and Imbalance 

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

Many people experience dizziness or balance issues following a mild concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dizziness or imbalance can be caused by a

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Vision and Brain Injuries

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

Can the eyes and visual system be affected by a brain injury? Yes, Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in significant vision problems, unfortunately these often remain undiagnosed for years, dramatically impacting the quality of life.

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5 Essential Facts About Traumatic Brain Injuries

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

Have you suffered a brain injury? Here are 5 facts that are essential to know: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the

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How Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Cause Vision Problems?

by Russ Lazarus April 12, 2020

Brain injuries can lead to vision problems, especially in children.  We often think of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) affecting adults, however consider these facts:

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