Frequently Asked Questions

Our Frequently Asked Questions contain common questions we receive relating to Binocular Vision Dysfunction. You can view the full list here.

How Do You Know If You Have Binocular Vision Dysfunction?   Could it be my eyes?-Take the quiz!
Headaches and dizziness are the two most common symptoms associated with BVD. Patients with BVD tend to experience headaches in the front of the face or the temples. The dizziness is often described as feeling disoriented or lightheaded.

Other symptoms often accompany the headaches and dizziness, including pain, difficulties with balance and coordination, reading, vision, and psychological symptoms.

⦁ Pain Symptoms: Such as face ache, eye pain or pain with eye movement (symptoms similar to sinus problems, migraines, TMJ problems); neck ache and upper back pain due to a head tilt (similar to spinal misalignment symptoms).
⦁ Balance and Coordination Symptoms: Motion sickness, nausea, poor depth perception, unsteadiness while walking or drifting to one side while walking (“I’ve always been clumsy”), lack of coordination with symptoms being to those seen in patients with MS, patients who have experienced a stroke, an inner ear disorder, or Meniere’s Disease.
⦁ Reading Symptoms: Difficulty with concentration (symptoms are similar to those experienced with ADHD), difficulty with reading and comprehension, skipping lines while reading, losing one’s place while reading, words running together while reading (symptoms similar to those seen with a learning disability).
⦁ Vision Symptoms: Blurred vision, double or overlapping vision, shadowed vision (symptoms similar to those seen in patients with MS), light sensitivity, difficulty with glare or reflection
⦁ Psychological Symptoms: Feeling overwhelmed or anxious when in large contained spaces like malls or big box stores like WalMart, feeling overwhelmed or anxious in crowds or while driving (symptoms similar to those seen in patients with anxiety or agoraphobia).

If you have seen your primary care doctor or specialist and there has been no cause found for your symptoms, it could be BVD.

How Do You Fix Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
BVD is treated by correcting the eye misalignment. This is done with our specialized micro-prism lenses, which bend light in such a way that the image seen by the eye is moved into the position it needs to be in order to once again realign the images. Once this occurs, the eye muscles no longer have to strain, providing complete relief from headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and all other symptoms.
Patients oftentimes report feeling noticeably better immediately. The average patient suffering from BVD will notice a 50% reduction of symptoms by the end of their first visit. Over the next several visits, the aligning lenses are fine-tuned and continue to improve and eliminate the symptoms of BVD.

Can Binocular Vision Dysfunction Make it Difficult to Drive?
Yes, many patients with BVD experience difficulty with driving. This is because two of the most common symptoms associated with the condition are headaches and dizziness, which alters your depth perception, balance, and equilibrium, essentially making it difficult to see the road, signage, and nearby cars.

How Do You Get BVD?
BVD can be the result of your facial asymmetry (where one eye is higher than the other), nerve or eye muscle abnormality (a common condition many people are born with), or it can develop as a result of stroke, brain injury, or a similar neurological disorder.

How Is BVD Diagnosed?
To determine if your symptoms are the result of Binocular Vision Dysfunction, we suggest you first see your primary care physician or specialist to rule out other causes for your symptoms. If no cause is found for the symptoms, then BVD might be the issue.
⦁ We ask you to fill out a specialized questionnaire designed to help diagnose those who have BVD.
⦁ You will be asked to complete a detailed Health History form.
⦁ An eye exam is performed to determine the need for correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism (a common imperfection in the eye’s curvature).
⦁ A specialized exam is performed (NeuroVisual Evaluation) to determine if visual misalignment is present.
⦁ If diagnosed with BVD, you will be fitted with a trial version of your new prescription. Most people notice a significant improvement in their symptoms within just a few minutes of putting on the trial lenses.

You can expect to spend approximately 3 hours in our office during your visit.

At What Age Can A Person Receive Treatment For BVD?
Every person can receive treatment for BVD, as long as they are old enough to wear the specialized glasses and be able to tell (or show) the doctor how they feel. The youngest patient that has been helped was 8 months old. There is no upper age limit.
Can People With Traumatic Brain Injury Be Helped?
Yes, but it is important that individuals with a traumatic brain injury be thoroughly evaluated by their doctor to rule out other causes of symptoms (including dizziness and headaches). If no other cause is found, Dr. Flaherty can conduct a NeuroVisual Evaluation to determine if BVD is the cause of their symptoms. Even if the individual has experienced BVD symptoms for decades, they can still receive treatment for the condition.

If you have a specific question that is not listed, please feel free to Ask the Doctor.