Did You Know That Lyme Disease Can Affect Your Eyes?

The CDC estimates that approximately 500,000 people are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease annually in the United States. It’s transmitted to humans via the bite of a black-legged (deer) tick infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium.

Symptoms of Lyme disease vary greatly, can occur in stages, and can develop over several weeks to 12 months or later after the tick bite. 

Vision issues associated with Lyme disease are often related to its effects on the nervous system, including inflammation in the brain’s visual processing center and problems with eye function.  

Our team at DeyeNAMICS has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating visual impairments related to Lyme disease. We develop personalized treatment strategies designed to help restore and protect your vision.

Here’s more information about Lyme disease, its effects on your eyes, and how our treatments can help.

How Lyme Disease Can Affect Your Eyes

Lyme disease can impact the eyes in multiple ways, leading to symptoms that may vary in severity. Some of the most common ocular manifestations include:

Optic Neuritis

Inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) can cause blurred vision, eye pain, and even temporary vision loss. This condition is often associated with Lyme disease’s neurological complications and requires immediate attention because it can have lasting effects.

Light Sensitivity (Photophobia)

Many individuals with Lyme disease experience heightened sensitivity to light, making it challenging to be in brightly lit environments both outdoors and inside. This symptom can significantly impact daily activities such as driving or working on a computer.

Double Vision (Diplopia) and Eye Misalignment

Lyme disease can affect the nerves controlling eye movement. This may result in double vision, dizziness, and difficulty focusing on objects. It can also cause extreme discomfort and reduce perception of depth.

Eye Inflammation

Lyme disease can cause various inflammatory eye conditions, including:

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva (the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye) which can cause redness, irritation, and watery eyes.

Uveitis

Inflammation of the uvea (middle layer of the eye) can cause eye pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and floaters.

Retinal Vasculitis

This type of inflammation affects the retinal blood vessels, which may cause vision disturbances and, in severe cases, blindness.

Keratitis

Inflammation of the cornea (keratitis) causes pain, light sensitivity, and vision impairment. The cornea is the clear dome that covers the iris of your eye.

Visual Processing Issues

Lyme disease can disrupt the brain’s ability to interpret visual information correctly, leading to problems with depth perception, tracking moving objects, and reading comprehension.

How Neuro-Optometric Therapy Can Help

Our team at DeyeNAMICS specializes in neuro-optometric therapy. This branch of vision care focuses on rehabilitating visual dysfunctions caused by neurological conditions, including Lyme disease.

Our services include techniques that can help relieve your symptoms and preserve vision, including:

1. Vision Therapy Exercises

These customized exercises help retrain the brain to improve eye coordination, tracking, and focusing abilities. They can reduce double vision, improve depth perception, and enhance overall visual processing.

2. Prism Lenses

For individuals experiencing double vision or eye misalignment, prism lenses can realign visual input, making it easier to see clearly and comfortably.

3. Light Sensitivity Management

Specialized tinted lenses and filters can help reduce discomfort caused by light sensitivity. We can customize these lenses to filter out specific wavelengths of light that trigger symptoms.

4. Neuro-Visual Rehabilitation Techniques

Neuro-optometric therapy incorporates techniques that help retrain the brain’s visual pathways, improving balance, coordination, and cognitive function related to vision.

5. Collaborative Care

Since Lyme disease affects multiple systems in the body, our neuro-optometric team often works with other medical professionals to optimize your care. This holistic approach to healing may include medication (oral or IV antibiotics, or supplements), physical therapy, and neurological care.

Your Path to Better Vision

Lyme disease can profoundly impact vision and eye health, affecting daily life and overall well-being. Targeted therapies and specialized interventions can help restore visual function.

Schedule a visit at DeyeNAMICS today by calling one of our conveniently located offices.