There are some tiny but mighty muscles in your eyes known as the extraocular muscles. These muscles control eye movement and make it possible for the eyes to focus on and track objects in tandem. They also enable us to see one clear image instead of two separate ones. Sometimes, though, accidents, injuries and certain medical conditions can move the eyes out of position. When this happens, symptoms of eye muscle strain will begin to appear.
Vertical Heterophoria & Eye Muscle Strain
When the eyes are not in perfect alignment, vertical heterophoria (VH), a type of binocular vision dysfunction, can develop. To correct the misalignment, the brain compensates by forcing the eyes back to the appropriate position. Unfortunately, this puts a great deal of strain on the eyes, as the extraocular muscles have to work very hard to maintain this position.
Eventually, they become overworked and fatigued, creating a variety of troubling symptoms that can range from uncomfortable to debilitating. Some of these symptoms can include headaches, dizziness and nausea, blurred or double vision and prolonged tension around the eyes and temples. Following is the experience of S. H., a patient of Dr. Cheryl Israeloff.
Sometimes It’s the Eyes
“I was never happy with my vision. I always felt things didn’t look quite right. Every day, I would suffer from eye strain and tension at my temples. I went to many eye doctors and they all said my eyes were fine. At a routine eye appointment with Dr. Cheryl, I complained about these feelings of strain and eye pain. She asked tons of questions and did the most detailed eye exam that I ever had. She not only tested my vision in each eye, but she tested how my two eyes worked together. My problems were caused by a binocular vision disorder that no other doctor ever tested for before! I now have my second set of prism lenses and I can’t believe how well I see and how great I feel.” – S.H.
Schedule a Neurovisual Examination
If, like this patient, you feel something is off with your vision, but others are telling you everything is fine, trust your instincts. Schedule a neurovisual examination with one of the specialists at the Neuro Visual Center of New York. Give us a call today at (516) 224-4888 to learn how we can help with eye strain treatment.
