Why Binocular Vision Dysfunction in Children Is Frequently Mistaken for Something Else

There’s nothing quite as heartbreaking as seeing your child struggle in school. When he or she starts having problems such as dyslexia, reading difficulties, trouble concentrating, anxiety and vision problems, as a parent it’s natural to want to charge in and make everything right. But in order to be able to help effectively, it’s essential to know what exactly is causing these issues. You may be surprised to learn that up to 50 percent of children with these and related problems – like ADD/ADHD – could actually be suffering from Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD).

What Brings On BVD?

In order for one clear image to come into focus, the image seen by one eye must be in alignment with the image seen by the other eye. Sometimes, however, the alignment is off, and the brain kicks into gear to correct this issue, causing the body to struggle to fix the problem, it does so at great cost to the eye muscles. As these muscles are the means used to realign the eyes, a great deal of pressure and stress is put on them, causing them to become tired, sore and overworked. This is when the symptoms of BVD begin to appear, which include not only reading and learning problems, but the following:

• Blurred vision

• Shadowed or double vision

• Sensitivity to light

• Head tilt

• Lack of coordination

• Headaches

• Nausea & dizziness

Why School Vision Exams Miss Signs of BVD

The vision screening services provided at schools are not extensive vision evaluations. In general, a standard school vision screening will check how well the eyes see at distance and will check one test to see how well the eyes work together. Unfortunately, the minor eye misalignments that characterize BVD aren’t tested for. And since even the slightest misalignment can result in BVD symptoms, those kids who have it will not be properly diagnosed.

Our Experts Can Help

If your child is having trouble in school and experiencing symptoms of BVD, it’s time to see a specialist at Vision Specialists of Michigan. Our doctor will perform a comprehensive NeuroVisual Examination, which includes an assessment that will help identify even the smallest amounts of eye misalignment. In the event that any misalignments are found, we will then prescribe customized micro-prism lenses to realign the images, thus greatly reducing – and sometimes even eliminating – the BVD symptoms. Schedule an exam with one of our NeuroVisual Specialists today by calling us at (248) 504-2900, or feel free to fill out our BVD questionnaire.