Can BVD Cause Vertigo?

BVD refers to binocular vision dysfunction. It is a condition where there is a misalignment of your eyes. It causes them to send two different images to the brain. The brain struggles to merge these varying images into one clear one. It results in headaches and double vision, in addition to other symptoms.

One of the symptoms is the feeling that you are spinning around when standing still. The term for this is vertigo. It causes you to feel off-balance and like you are going to fall.

Causes

BVD can result from different injuries and conditions that affect the brain. These include:

• Stroke.
• Injuries to the head.
• Neurological disorders.
• Nerve dysfunction.
• Eye muscle dysfunction.

Any injury that affects the head, neck, or spine can also result in vertigo.

BVD and Vertigo

Your brain tries to force the muscles around the eye to align. It does this to try and compensate for the misalignment. It puts them under strain, and the alignment is only temporary. The eyes fall back into misalignment, causing the cycle to begin again. It results in several symptoms that overlap between BVD and vertigo.

These symptoms result from conflicting messages from the systems that balance the body. As your eyes send conflicting messages, so are your inner ears. The same goes for your position-sensing nerves in the head, neck, arms, and legs. It causes confusion between your vestibular and visual systems.

These symptoms include:

• Dizziness.
• Blurry vision.
• Headaches.
• Fatigue.
• Balance problems.

When Does It Often Happen?

If you have BVD, you will often experience vertigo when driving. It may come on suddenly without warning, especially when driving at high speeds. It can be scary and provoke anxious feelings.

Treatment

The most effective treatment for BVD is the use of prismatic lenses. Your doctor may also include vision therapy. It helps your eyes develop strong communication with the brain.

What Are Prismatic Lenses?

These are lenses that correct eye misalignment. They do this by manipulating light as it enters your eyes. It causes the images you see of the same object to be identical. The lenses trick the brain into thinking that your eyes are in alignment.

When you use prismatic lenses, your eyes will send identical images of the same object to the brain. There is no muscle strain or overcompensation by the eye muscles, and they can relax. Many patients find that their vertigo symptoms subside or disappear when using prismatic lenses.

Conclusion

If you are suffering from vertigo, one of the things you should do is schedule an eye exam. Ensure it is with a doctor who has experience and training in diagnosing and treating BVD. They will tell you if it could be the cause of your vertigo.

However, the best way to deal with all these conditions is to find the underlying cause. Determining whether your symptoms result from BVD is just the first step. BVD has its underlying cause. If you can find it and treat it, you can deal with both conditions.

For more information on BVD and vertigo, call Eye Care North at (480) 781-4446 to reach our office in Cave Creek, Arizona.