Understanding Pediatric Concussions and Their Impact on Vision

As a parent, seeing your child struggle after a head injury can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. Concerns about their health, academic performance, and day-to-day activities can feel unrelenting. At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we understand how crucial it is to identify and address symptoms of pediatric concussions early. Often referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), concussions are more than just a bump on the head—they can profoundly impact your child’s vision, learning, and overall quality of life.

Our eye doctors specialize in functional and pediatric vision, focusing on mitigating the effects of concussions through tailored vision rehabilitation strategies. With our experience in post concussion vision, state-of-the-art technology and compassionate approach, we’re committed to supporting children on their recovery journey.

Recognizing Symptoms: Immediate and Delayed Indicators

Concussions can produce a wide array of symptoms, some of which appear immediately after an injury, while others may surface days or even weeks later. Understanding these signs is key to seeking prompt and effective treatment.

Immediate Symptoms often include:

• Persistent headaches
• Dizziness or balance difficulties
• Sensitivity to light
• Disorientation or confusion
• Nausea or vomiting

Delayed Symptoms may include:

• Difficulty concentrating and remembering information
• Blurred or double vision
• Eye strain or discomfort, especially during reading
• Increased sensitivity to busy or brightly lit environments
• Slower reading speed and comprehension

At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we emphasize the importance of seeking a professional evaluation as soon as any of these symptoms are noticed. According to research, up to 80% of pediatric concussion cases report visual complaints, significantly impacting academic performance and everyday tasks.

Common Vision-Related Symptoms in Pediatric Concussions

Concussions can specifically affect the visual system, often leading to symptoms that are overlooked in initial assessments. The most common vision-related issues include:

• Blurred or double vision
• Difficulty with eye tracking and coordination
• Motion sickness during visual tasks
• Challenges maintaining visual attention or focus
• Delayed visual memory, which hampers the ability to recall written or seen information

Key Findings on Concussions and Vision

Research has highlighted a troubling connection between concussions and functional vision problems. Recognizing these issues early can make a significant difference in your child’s recovery.

• High Prevalence of Vision Problems
  • Approximately 69% of adolescents diagnosed with a concussion experience functional vision issues.
  • A collaborative study involving pediatricians and developmental optometrists has shown that these problems often go undetected, exacerbating challenges for children post-injury.
• Persistent Symptoms Post-Injury
  • Even one year after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), many children face ongoing visual and cognitive difficulties.
  • Common symptoms include:
    • Persistent headaches
    • Sensitivity to light
    • Dizziness and eye fatigue
    • Blurred or double vision
    • Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms can severely disrupt school performance, making tasks like reading and focusing on assignments feel overwhelming. Recovery from a concussion is challenging, and visual problems can linger if not addressed. Acting early can stop temporary symptoms from turning into chronic issues.

Photophobia and Light Sensitivity: Supporting Your Child

Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is one of the most commonly reported symptoms after concussions. Watching your child shy away from activities they once loved due to discomfort with light can be heartbreaking.

• Key Symptoms: Persistent discomfort in bright environments or while using screens, often lasting weeks or more. 

What is a Concussion?

A concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), occurs when a sudden bump, blow, or jolt causes the brain to rapidly move within the skull. This type of injury can disrupt normal brain function, leading to a variety of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, confusion, and visual problems.

While concussions are often labeled as “mild” because they are typically not life-threatening, the impact can be severe, especially in children. Symptoms may persist long after the initial injury. As research has reported, many children experience ongoing difficulties that affect daily life, school performance, and social interaction, necessitating a comprehensive follow-up.

Statistics on Concussion-Related Vision Issues

Recent studies highlight a significant link between concussions and visual problems in young patients. For instance:

• Approximately 54% to 80% of patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) report visual complaints.
• A staggering 69% of adolescents diagnosed with a concussion were found to have functional vision problems, emphasizing the importance of functional eye evaluations in the recovery process.
• Many children with concussions experience issues such as double vision, light sensitivity, trouble focusing, and problems with eye coordination.

These statistics underscore the critical need for early detection and intervention to address vision-related symptoms that can impede recovery and affect overall well-being.

The Prevalence of Concussions in Children

• Concussions can happen in everyday activities, such as sports, playgrounds, and even in vehicle accidents.
• Children can experience varying degrees of severity from mild to severe, with recovery times also varying based on individual circumstances.
• Many children may face delayed symptoms or chronic issues that require targeted interventions, especially for vision-related problems.

The combination of high incidence rates and the complexity of concussion symptoms necessitates a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention are vital to ensure that children receive the care they need to recover fully and return to their everyday activities.

Identifying Vestibular-Oculomotor Dysfunction (VOD)

Symptoms and Screening

When your child suffers a concussion, the aftermath can be concerning not just for them, but for you as parents. Many children face lingering symptoms that affect their daily lives, with studies indicating that 54% to 80% of individuals who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) report visual complaints. Unfortunately, symptoms often go unnoticed, and accurate identification of complications related to vision can be challenging without proper screening.

Common symptoms that may suggest vestibular-oculomotor dysfunction (VOD) include:

• Headaches
• Light sensitivity
• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Eye fatigue
• Motion sickness
• Dizziness
• Disorientation
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slow reading or loss of place while reading
• Inability to tolerate busy environments

These symptoms can significantly impact your child’s academic performance, social interactions, and overall quality of life. 

During a functional vision evaluation following a concussion, a functional optometrist will assess a range of aspects of visual function that typically are impacted by a head injury including: 

• Convergence (the ability to focus on objects as they come closer)
• Saccades (rapid eye movements between objects)
• Smooth pursuit (tracking a moving target)
• Vestibular-ocular reflex (stabilizing vision during head movement)
• Visual motion sensitivity (resistance to visual disorientation)

Vestibular-Oculomotor Dysfunction impacts nearly 76% of pediatric patients acutely after a concussion, highlighting its prevalence and the necessity for thorough assessments.

Children with VOD may not only experience visual disturbances but may also suffer from connected issues, such as balance problems and sensation of dizziness. Symptoms are often misinterpreted or overlooked, leading to further complications and a slower path to recovery. For instance, while their visual acuity might maintain a seemingly normal score of 20/20, the functional abilities of their vision often falter. This disconnect can inhibit their capacity to engage fully in both academic and social settings.

Research indicates that children who have experienced a concussion can face setbacks in their ability to function optimally in school; they may find themselves struggling to keep up with peers or losing confidence due to their impaired abilities. It has been shown that approximately 70% of young athletes report visual coordination and focusing problems after a concussion.

The Importance of A Functional Eye Exam

What is a functional or developmental eye exam and why is it important after a concussion?

Functional eye exams offer a comprehensive assessment beyond typical sight testing. Unlike standard eye exams that primarily focus on visual acuity (like 20/20 vision), a functional eye exam evaluates how well your child’s eyes work together while engaging in everyday tasks. This type of evaluation is crucial post-concussion because vision issues often go unrecognized, leaving children struggling with symptoms like double vision, headaches, or difficulty concentrating. Addressing these symptoms quickly is important for helping your child return to their regular activities.

Our clinic in Costa Mesa, California, serves as Orange County’s premier resource for neuro-optometric care. We’re proud to offer personalized rehabilitation programs that help children regain their visual function and improve their quality of life. Our services are easily accessible to families from neighboring cities, including Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana.

Vision Therapy Following a Concussion

Vision therapy is a vital component in the rehabilitation process after a concussion. Immediate examination and treatment are crucial, as concussions often result in oculomotor dysfunctions such as reading difficulties, issues with eye teaming (vergence), focusing (accommodation), and impaired eye movements like saccades and pursuits. According to the Targeted Evaluation and Active Management (TEAM) approach published in Neurosurgery (2016), vision therapy has been found beneficial for patients with concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries exhibiting these common visual problems.

Vision therapy employs a series of specialized exercises and tools designed to enhance oculomotor control, improve focusing abilities, and foster better coordination between the eyes. The therapy progresses through stages, starting with building foundational skills and advancing to visual input skills, visual processing, and ultimately visual learning. This structured approach helps retrain the visual system, promoting more efficient eye movements and visual processing.

Moreover, since vision is an integral part of the vestibular (balance) system, vision therapy can also address vestibular impairments that often accompany concussions. Symptoms like vertigo, dizziness, impaired balance, visual motion sensitivity, and gait issues can be alleviated through exercises that emphasize active vestibular and visual rehabilitation. Such interventions can reduce or eliminate conditions like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and enhance balance, gaze stability, eye-head coordination, and overall gait.

By focusing on both the visual and vestibular aspects affected by a concussion, vision therapy offers a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy. It not only addresses immediate visual symptoms but also contributes to long-term improvements in daily activities, learning, and quality of life.

Why a Collaborative Approach Matters

Your child’s recovery journey can benefit immensely from a multi-disciplinary approach. Healthcare professionals—ranging from pediatricians to optometrists—play crucial roles in identifying and treating post-concussion symptoms. Collaboration between specialists can ensure that children receive well-rounded care tailored to their specific needs. For instance, if a pediatrician suspects vision issues following a concussion, referring the child to a developmental optometrist can lead to timely interventions that might change the course of recovery.

The Risks of Delayed Treatment

Delaying treatment for a concussion can lead to chronic symptoms that linger for months, or even years. Research indicates that a majority of patients who have experienced an mTBI report ongoing difficulties as far as a year later. The longer you wait, the more compounded the issues can become. Children may experience persistent headaches, difficulty reading, and trouble with balance—disrupting not only their academic performance but their overall quality of life. Missed opportunities for timely intervention often leave children struggling with visual and cognitive symptoms that affect their daily routines.

How Early Treatment Benefits Recovery

The good news is that early intervention can make a significant difference in your child’s recovery. Immediate, specialized treatment, such as vision therapy, can address the visual impairments linked with concussions. As a multi-disciplinary approach, it enhances the coordination of care among pediatricians, optometrists, and therapists, promoting quicker recovery rates and improved quality of life for young patients.

A detailed assessment can identify underlying visual disorders that often accompany concussions, like convergence insufficiency or other vestibular-oculomotor dysfunctions. Patients who engage in vision therapy and appropriate rehabilitation often experience:

• Significantly reduced symptoms
• Improved academic performance
• Enhanced confidence in physical activities
• Overall improved well-being and daily functioning

Collaborative Care for Best Outcomes

Interdisciplinary Collaborations

Effective concussion treatment requires coordinated care among multiple healthcare professionals due to the complexity of symptoms. About 69% of adolescents with concussions show functional vision issues.

Key Points:

• Coordination between pediatricians, neurologists, functional optometrists, and physical therapists
• Early recognition and treatment of vision problems
• Comprehensive care strategies for immediate and long-term recovery
• Established referral networks for prompt specialized care

Role of Parents and Families

Parents are essential partners in identifying and monitoring post-concussion symptoms, particularly vision-related issues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitor changes in academic performance and daily activities
• Watch for signs of vision problems and fatigue
• Communicate observations to healthcare providers
• Advocate for necessary evaluations and follow-ups

Steps to Take After Your Child Sustains a Concussion

If your child has experienced a concussion, prompt and appropriate action is essential to facilitate a smooth recovery. 

Here’s what you should do to ensure your child receives the necessary care:

1. Seek Immediate Professional Evaluation
   • Pediatric Expertise: Consult a healthcare professional who specializes in pediatric concussions. A thorough evaluation is crucial to assess the extent of the injury.
   • Functional Vision Evaluation: Ensure that your child is seen by a developmental or functional optometrist for an in depth assessment of their vision looking for visual disturbances frequently impacted by a concussion.
2. Limit Cognitive and Physical Activities
   • Rest the Brain and Body: Allow your child to take a break from schoolwork, reading, screen time, and physical exertion for a few days following the injury.
   • Gradual Reintroduction: Slowly reintroduce activities based on your healthcare provider’s recommendations to prevent symptom recurrence.
3. Monitor and Document Symptoms
   • Symptom Journal: Keep a detailed record of any symptoms your child experiences, such as headaches, dizziness, or visual changes. Note their frequency, duration, and intensity.
   • Communication with Professionals: Share this information with your healthcare provider to help tailor the recovery plan.
4. Seek Therapy
   • Optometric Vision Therapy: This specialized therapy can address visual dysfunctions associated with concussions and support your child’s safe return to academic activities.
5. Avoid Delays in Treatment
   • Procrastinating on seeking appropriate treatment can lead to prolonged or worsening symptoms. Early intervention by specialists familiar with concussive injuries in children is vital. They can provide guidance and implement strategies to aid in your child’s effective recovery.

Empowering Parents with Knowledge and Expertise

At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we understand the worry that comes with seeing your child struggle post-injury. That’s why we focus on educating parents about the significance of addressing visual symptoms early. Our experienced team provides comprehensive care plans tailored to your child’s specific needs. Using advanced diagnostic tools and evidence-based treatments, we aim for nothing less than a full recovery.

If your child is displaying any signs of visual disturbances after a concussion, we encourage you to schedule an appointment. Our Costa Mesa clinic is equipped with cutting-edge technology and a dedicated team of specialists ready to assist. Together, we’ll help your child love the way they see again.

Help your child achieve a faster, more complete recovery. Contact Insight Vision Center Optometry today to book a comprehensive Vision Rehabilitation Assessment. Call us at (714) 942-1361 or book online to schedule an eye exam. Families from Tustin, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Orange, and beyond trust us for expert pediatric eye care.