Concussion

A concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Acquired Brain Injury causes damage to the brain as a result of a blow to the head, stroke, or neurological dysfunction. It changes the way your brain functions. In children, the most common cause of concussions is a blow to the head during sports. In adults, motor vehicle accidents and falls are the most common cause.

The most common symptoms of a concussion are physical and cognitive:

Common physical symptoms of concussion are headaches, dizziness and vision problems.

Cognitive (mental) symptoms such as feeling in a fog and difficulty concentrating are widely experienced as well.

Concussion Information Sheet for Parents - click here

Concussions can have the following effects on the visual system:

Blurred Vision – can occur at distance, near or both and can last for days or months.

Accommodative Insufficiency – A reduced ability for the eyes to focus at near. This may cause constant or intermittent blurred vision when reading or working on a computer.

Convergence Insufficiency- a weakness in the eyes ability to work together at near which can cause headaches, eyestrain and even double vision when performing near activities.