Neurovisual Evaluation - Dizziness | Cave Creek Eye Doctor

Binocular Vision Dysfunction: What to Expect

Tense and overworked muscles in and around your eyes caused by Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) are working to compensate for eye misalignment and can be responsible for dizziness, headaches, and other unwanted symptoms. The goal is to coordinate the functioning of your two eyes to allow for comfortable vision. Your new eyeglasses will have a prescription that will relax the muscles of your eyes so that your BVD symptoms (including dizziness and/or headache) will be reduced, if not eliminated. For some patients, this first prescription will be the final one.

For most patients, however, this first prescription is just the beginning of the process. The eye muscles have been tense for so long that they may not relax completely with this first prescription. You may notice with time that your symptoms, which were initially relieved, are returning. When this occurs, you will need to return to the office for an adjustment of your prescription. This process of Progressive Relaxation with prescription adjustments may occur over a 2-6 month period of time, with the final result being reduction, if not elimination of the initial symptoms. It is important to monitor this condition with annual eye examinations.

Additional Office Visits

Following the initial office visit, Progress Assessment Visits are needed to further reduce your symptoms by making adjustments to your prescription. The first Progress Assessment Visit occurs approximately 2 - 4 weeks after the initial prescription is dispensed. For some patients, the visual system needs a longer period of time to undergo Progressive relaxation, requiring subsequent Progress Assessment Visits and prescription adjustments. With each visit and prescription adjustment, there is a continued improvement in your symptoms.

Comments About the Cost of the Examination and the Eyeglasses

The Comprehensive Vision Examination (including the NeuroVisual Evaluation) and the Progress Assessment Visits may be partially or completely covered by medical insurance. The cost of a complex eyeglass prescription is based on several different factors: frame chosen, lenses prescribed, coatings selected, etc. This initial charge is not typically covered by medical insurance. Should an initial prescription require modification within the first 6 months, the lenses will be provided free of charge.