Driving is very similar to grocery shopping: bright lights, an enormous number of decisions to make, and constant movements around people who are trying to accomplish a task. It’s a sensory campaign that can induce anxiety for some individuals.
What is Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is a broad term often used by optometrists (healthcare providers who examine and correct your vision) and encompasses various conditions involving eye misalignment, meaning that the eyes struggle to work together and point in different directions. Some conditions include insufficient convergence and vertical deviations.
What are the Symptoms of Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
Binocular Vision Dysfunction can cause a variety of symptoms that can make simple tasks difficult, according to research reviews, case reports, and patient interactions with optometrists.
Some of these symptoms include:
- Eye pain
- Double vision
- Poor depth perception
- Anxiety
- Frequent headaches
- Balance problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Reading fatigue
- Bumping into walls while walking
- Nausea
- Frequent eye rubbing
Does Binocular Vision Dysfunction Really Cause Anxiety?
Grocery stores are brightly lit, crowded, and stocked with hundreds of colorful products on high shelves, all of which can overwhelm your visual system and, naturally, your brain, according to Antonian.
Your nervous system bears the burden of converting the light that strikes your eyes into electrical signals that travel to your brain, where they are translated into images you see. When you have Binocular Vision Dysfunction and you’re bombarded with visual stimuli, this system becomes stressed, triggering the fight or flight response in an attempt to regain stability, Antonian said.
For instance, it may be challenging to navigate around shelves and other shoppers if you have poor depth perception, which can leave you uncentered and anxious; or it might be hard to reach for products and read ingredient labels if you have double vision because your eyes struggle to interpret two images.
The same overstimulation can occur in the car (whether you are the driver or a passenger), especially at night or when it’s raining, or in crowded environments such as clubs, parties, and venues.
What Causes Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
Some individuals may have Binocular Vision Dysfunction from birth, while others may develop it over time, either due to improper development in childhood or due to aging.
Your brain forms connections with your eyes after birth, according to Theis, so infants born prematurely, or children who are not exposed to appropriate visual stimuli during their early years of life, are at a higher risk of developing BVD.
Head injuries, strokes, and brain injuries resulting from neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease can also cause Binocular Vision Dysfunction, as well as some infections like shingles or herpes simplex, according to Dr. Rebecca Linnehan, a pediatric ophthalmologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Hormonal changes associated with menopause, pregnancy, or thyroid diseases can lead to Binocular Vision Dysfunction, as hormones affect the eyes and the muscles that control them.
According to Antonian, Binocular Vision Dysfunction is also linked to certain neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, hyperactivity, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
How Can I Treat Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
Since many conditions fall under the umbrella of Binocular Vision Dysfunction, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment, according to Watt.
The most common treatment, according to optometrists, is adding lenses like prisms to a person’s glasses, which bend incoming light to help the eyes see the same image. Prisms may provide relief for a short or long term, according to Watt.
According to
For the laboratory that produces them, the serums cost about $10 per dose, according to Antonian. The downside: they cannot be added to contact lenses.
Eye doctors say that research supports the use of serums primarily for correcting double vision. Some retrospective studies on individuals who experienced head trauma and brain injuries have found that serums helped alleviate symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and anxiety.
In other cases, optometrists may adjust your glasses prescription or suggest vision therapy to train your eyes to work together. However, eye doctors warn about the treatment due to weak research regarding its ability to treat binocular vision dysfunction in general, in addition to being costly, according to Edmund.
What can I do if I think I have binocular vision dysfunction?
Experts recommend visiting an eye healthcare provider if you think you have binocular vision dysfunction. They may refer you to a specialist for further tests that measure your eye positioning, depth perception, reading ability, balance, and more. Antonian says this test takes about an hour.
It is difficult to find a specialist, according to experts. Antonian recommends using specific terms like “binocular vision specialist,” “neuro-optometry specialist,” and “behavioral optometrist” when searching for an eye healthcare provider near you who can test for binocular vision dysfunction.
Edmund also recommends seeing your general practitioner or other doctors for symptoms that are not related to your eyes.
Above all, do not hesitate to “express your concerns, ask questions, and keep seeking answers,” according to Watt: “There are solutions to these problems, and you should not have to live the rest of your life suffering.”
Source: https://www.aol.com/grocery-stores-cars-anxious-eyes-130210846.html
Leave a Reply