Your Eyes & Your Sense of Balance
Your Eyes & Your Sense of Balance
Balance helps us understand our body’s position and maintain it relative to our surroundings. A well-functioning balance system lets us see clearly while moving, judge movement direction and speed, and make automatic adjustments to maintain posture and stability in diverse activities and situations.
Balance is achieved through a complex process involving three systems: the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory (proprioceptive) systems. Disruptions to the eye-brain connection—from injuries, diseases, aging, or certain medications—can impact one or more of these systems.
Balance Problems & Vision
People with balance issues may feel as if they’re moving even while standing or sitting still. They may also struggle to walk straight, particularly when rising suddenly from a seated or reclined position. Various vision problems can significantly affect balance, including:
- Binocular vision dysfunction (eye misalignment)
- Blurry or double vision
- Eye teaming and tracking difficulties
- Hemianopsia (blindness in half of the visual field)
- Nystagmus (uncontrolled, repetitive eye movements)
- Visual midline shift syndrome
If a visual issue is at the root of your balance challenges, neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy can help.
What Is Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Therapy?
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is a personalized treatment program designed to develop, enhance, and restore visual skills that may be underdeveloped or impaired. This specialized therapy combines eye exercises, techniques, activities and visual aids (such as prisms) to improve visual processing and perception by strengthening the eye-brain connection.
Before beginning neuro-optometric rehabilitation, you’ll undergo a thorough visual exam to assess visual skills and identify any visual dysfunction. Your Neuro-Optometrists Dr. Dick O’Connor and Dr. Fortuna will also evaluate for issues such as double vision, blurry vision, and eye coordination, as well as any other ocular conditions that may be causing symptoms. From there they will develop a customized plan to get you on the road to recovery.
Get Started Today!
If you or a loved one is experiencing balance issues, contact the team at Vision Development of WNY for a consultation. We bring expertise and cutting-edge technology to provide the highest level of care.
Our practice serves patients from Elma, Buffalo, SouthTowns, Western New York, and surrounding communities.
There’s Hope In Sight!