Spotting the Symptoms of a Concussion

Concussions are a surprisingly common type of injury, and while it’s tempting to think they only occur during sports activities, they can happen from falls, car accidents, and other causes too. Every year, millions of concussions occur in the United States, and unfortunately, many go undetected, leaving people at risk of serious complications or even death.

Concussions happen when a blow to your head or body causes your head to snap back and forth violently, in turn leading to your brain moving or twisting inside the skull. These movements result in chemical changes, along with damage to your nerves, blood vessels, and brain cells.

As a leading neuro-optometric rehabilitation provider, DeyeNAMICS offers advanced treatment for concussions, focusing on enhancing recovery and preventing more serious complications. In this post, our team reviews the most common symptoms associated with concussions, including some relatively subtle signs, so you can seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Concussion Symptoms: Subtle and Surprising

Concussions involve impacts to your head, so it’s not surprising that headache or head pain is one of the most common symptoms. But that’s just one potential symptom. Others include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Brain “fog” or confusion
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• “Ringing” sensations in your ears
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Memory problems
• Problems with concentration
• Moodiness or irritability

Many people are surprised to learn that concussions are often associated with vision changes, and evaluating those changes plays a key role in both diagnosing and treating concussions.

Vision Changes and Concussions

Many people with concussions experience visual symptoms that happen when a concussion affects areas of your brain associated with visual processing. Some potential vision-related concussion symptoms include:

• Double vision
• Blurry vision
• Problems with focusing
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye fatigue and headaches
• Difficulty visually processing movement
• Hallucinations
• Problems with spatial recognition

In some cases, concussions cause a condition called Post-Trauma Vision Syndrome (PTVS), a medical syndrome that can interfere with simple daily activities like walking or reading.

Visual Midline Shift Syndrome (VMSS) is another syndrome associated with concussions. In this syndrome, a concussion affects your spatial visual system that helps you gauge distances and “understand” where your body is in relation to its environment. If you have VMSS, you may find your sense of balance is “off” or movements like walking are compromised.

Diagnosing and Managing Visual Issues

Like other concussion symptoms, visual symptoms can vary in severity. If you notice any change in your vision or your balance or coordination following a fall, car accident, or other injury, it’s important to have them evaluated right away.

Our team specializes in helping patients identify and manage visual issues following concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation focusing on the nerves involved in visual function and related issues, like balance and movement.

Once we diagnose the underlying issue, we recommend therapies tailored to your needs to help restore your vision and correct balance or coordination issues associated with PTVS, VMSS, or other concussion-related causes.

Early Management is Essential

Even a mild or seemingly minor vision change following a concussion can lead to more serious problems in the future. To learn how we can help, book an appointment at our offices in Sacramento, Bellflower, or Valencia, California; Guildford, Connecticut; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; or Plano, Texas, today.