Seeing your child struggle after a head injury can feel overwhelming. Concerns about their health, school performance, and daily activities are common. Concussions, also called mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), are more than just a bump on the head. They can affect your child's vision, learning, and quality of life.
Studies suggest that up to 80% of pediatric concussion cases involve visual complaints. Early identification and treatment of vision problems can help your child recover faster and more fully.
A concussion happens when a sudden bump, blow, or jolt causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. This movement can disrupt normal brain function, leading to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, confusion, and vision problems.
Although concussions are often called mild because they are usually not life-threatening, the effects can still be significant. Many children experience ongoing difficulties that affect school, social activities, and daily routines.
Concussions can happen during everyday activities. Sports, playground accidents, and vehicle collisions are common causes. Children may experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe, with recovery times varying based on individual circumstances.
Some children face delayed symptoms or ongoing issues that require targeted treatment, especially for vision-related problems. Early diagnosis and a coordinated approach to care help ensure children get the support they need.
Research shows a strong connection between concussions and vision problems in young patients. Studies indicate that 54% to 80% of patients with a traumatic brain injury report visual complaints. Around 69% of adolescents diagnosed with a concussion have functional vision problems.
Common vision issues include double vision, light sensitivity, trouble focusing, and difficulty with eye coordination. These problems often go unnoticed, which can slow recovery.
Some symptoms appear right after the injury. Parents and caregivers should watch for the following signs:
Other symptoms may surface days or even weeks after the injury. These delayed signs can be easy to miss:
Many children continue to experience symptoms even one year after the injury. Ongoing problems may include persistent headaches, light sensitivity, dizziness, eye fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can severely disrupt school performance and make reading and focusing on assignments feel overwhelming.
Concussions can specifically affect the visual system. Vision problems are often overlooked in initial evaluations. Watch for these common issues:
Light sensitivity, also called photophobia, is one of the most commonly reported symptoms after a concussion. Children may experience persistent discomfort in bright environments or while using screens. This sensitivity can last weeks or longer and may cause your child to avoid activities they once enjoyed.
Vestibular oculomotor dysfunction (VOD) affects how the eyes and balance system work together. Studies suggest this condition affects nearly 76% of pediatric patients shortly after a concussion. Children with VOD may experience visual disturbances along with balance problems and dizziness.
Symptoms of VOD include headaches, light sensitivity, double or blurred vision, eye fatigue, motion sickness, dizziness, disorientation, difficulty concentrating, slow reading or losing place while reading, and trouble tolerating busy environments.
Even when a child's visual acuity measures 20/20, the functional abilities of their vision may be impaired. This disconnect can affect their ability to participate fully in school and social activities. Research indicates that around 70% of young athletes report visual coordination and focusing problems after a concussion.
A functional eye exam goes beyond standard sight testing. Unlike regular eye exams that focus mainly on visual acuity, a functional exam evaluates how well your child's eyes work together during everyday tasks. This type of evaluation is important after a concussion because many vision issues go unrecognized.
During a functional vision evaluation, an optometrist assesses several visual functions that are often affected by head injuries:
Addressing vision symptoms quickly helps your child return to regular activities. Dr. Valerie Lam, OD, FAAO, FOVDR, who is board certified in Vision Therapy and Pediatric Developmental Vision Care and Vision Rehabilitation, evaluates children for post-concussion vision problems at Insight Vision Center Optometry. Early identification allows for timely treatment that can prevent temporary symptoms from becoming chronic issues.
Vision therapy is an important part of rehabilitation after a concussion. Concussions often result in oculomotor problems such as reading difficulties, issues with eye teaming, focusing challenges, and impaired eye movements. Vision therapy uses specialized exercises and tools to improve oculomotor control, focusing abilities, and coordination between the eyes.
Therapy progresses through stages. It starts with building foundational skills and advances to visual input skills, visual processing, and visual learning. This structured approach helps retrain the visual system and promotes more efficient eye movements and visual processing.
Because vision is connected to the balance system, vision therapy can also address vestibular problems that often accompany concussions. Symptoms like vertigo, dizziness, impaired balance, visual motion sensitivity, and walking difficulties can improve through exercises that focus on both vestibular and visual rehabilitation.
Patients who engage in vision therapy and appropriate rehabilitation often experience:
Your child's recovery benefits from coordinated care among multiple healthcare providers. Pediatricians, neurologists, optometrists, and physical therapists each play important roles. When providers communicate and work together, children receive well-rounded care tailored to their specific needs.
Parents are essential partners in identifying and monitoring post-concussion symptoms. You can help by monitoring changes in academic performance and daily activities, watching for signs of vision problems and fatigue, communicating observations to healthcare providers, and advocating for necessary evaluations and follow up care.
Waiting too long to seek treatment can lead to chronic symptoms that linger for months or even years. Children may experience persistent headaches, difficulty reading, and trouble with balance. These ongoing problems can disrupt school performance and quality of life.
If your child has experienced a concussion, take these steps:
Insight Vision Center Optometry provides functional vision evaluations and vision therapy for children recovering from concussions. Dr. Valerie Lam, OD, FAAO, FOVDR, brings advanced training in vision rehabilitation and organizes the Orange County Concussion Consortium. Dr. Ariel Chen, OD, integrates vision therapy with learning-related vision problems.
Vision therapy takes place at The Eye Gym at Insight Vision Center Optometry. Children work one on one with trained therapists in sessions designed to rebuild visual skills affected by concussion. Therapy programs are tailored to each child's specific needs and recovery goals.
Our Costa Mesa office serves families throughout Orange County, including Irvine, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Tustin, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Orange. We focus on helping children regain their visual function and return to the activities they enjoy.
A functional vision evaluation should be scheduled as soon as initial symptoms have stabilized, typically within the first few weeks after injury. Early evaluation helps identify vision problems before they become more difficult to treat. If your child is experiencing visual symptoms like headaches, light sensitivity, or reading difficulty, do not wait to seek care.
Yes. Standard vision tests measure how clearly your child can see letters on a chart. However, concussions often affect how the eyes work together, track moving objects, and coordinate with head movements. A child can have 20/20 eyesight and still struggle with functional vision problems that affect reading, learning, and daily activities.
The length of vision therapy varies based on the severity of symptoms and how the child responds to treatment. Some children improve within a few weeks, while others may need several months of therapy. Your optometrist will monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.
Some children need temporary accommodations such as reduced screen time, extra breaks, or modified assignments. Your healthcare team can help communicate with the school about your child's needs. Vision therapy can help your child return to full academic activities more quickly by addressing the visual problems that make schoolwork difficult.
Rest alone is not always enough to resolve post-concussion vision problems. If symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, a functional vision evaluation can identify specific issues that require treatment. Vision therapy and other targeted interventions can address problems that do not resolve on their own.
Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan. Our office can help you understand your benefits and options. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and learn more about scheduling an evaluation for your child.
