PJ ☏ 03-76138468|KL ☏ 012-7087884|PENANG ☏ 010-5418234|SEGAMAT ☏ 07-9318514

Binocular Vision Dysfunction

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) happens when the two eyes don’t collaborate effectively. One eye is out of alignment with the other, leading to double vision when the misalignment is significant. Conversely, if the misalignment is minor, a single image is preserved. Vertical heterophoria (VH) can develop due to inadequate coordination between the two eyes. If this condition is not addressed, the patient may experience vertical double vision.

Symptoms of BVD

  • Pain symptoms: Headache, sinus, and eye pain.
  • Head tilt: May cause neck ache and back pain. Long terms of head tilt can lead to unilateral furrowed brow asymmetrical face
  • Vestibular symptoms: Dizziness, imbalance, motion sickness, poor depth perception, lack of coordination, pulling to one side when walking
  • Reading symptoms: Tired easily and difficult to pay attention when reading, skip lines and lose one’s place easily, words running together
  • Routine visual symptoms: Eye tiredness, nighttime blindness, blurry vision, the difficulty for near tasks
  • Binocular vision symptoms: Double vision, use one eye when reading, light sensitivity
  • Physiological symptoms: Anxiety easily in a crowded place or in a large space

 

What’s the next step?

Having 20/20 vision means you can see a specific letter on an eye chart as well as most people can from 20 feet away. But healthy vision involves more than just this measurement.

For kids (6 to 18 years), it’s a advisable to get a thorough eye check before starting school and every year after. This check looks at the health of both the outside and inside of the eyes, color vision, glasses prescription, and checks how well the eyes work together. If a child struggles with reading, learning, or reaching their potential, a special vision evaluation Neuro-Developmental Vision Evaluation is needed.

Toddlers to 5 years old kids who have an eye turn (Strabismus) or lazy eye (Amblyopia), adults with trouble reading or had a head injury and kids with Autism Spectrum or facing other developmental delays, a Neuro-Developmental Vision Evaluation is highly recommended.

Our evaluation goes beyond just checking if you have 20/20 vision. We look at all the important visual skills needed for reading and learning.

Eye Teaming Skills

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) occurs when two eyes are not working together as a team. One eye is misaligned between the line of sight with the other eye. When the amount of misalignment is large, double vision may happen. Whereas, when the amount of misalignment is small, a single image is maintained. Vertical heterophoria (VH) may occur due to the lack of coordination between two eyes. If this condition is left untreated, the patient may have vertical double vision.  Symptoms of BVD  Pain symptoms: Headache, sinus, and eye pain. Head tilt: May cause neck ache and back pain. Long terms of head tilt can lead to unilateral furrowed brow asymmetrical face Vestibular symptoms: Dizziness, imbalance, motion sickness, poor depth perception, lack of coordination, pulling to one side when walking Reading symptoms: Tired easily and difficult to pay attention when reading, skip lines and lose one’s place easily, words running together Routine visual symptoms: Eye tiredness, nighttime blindness, blurry vision, the difficulty for near tasks        Binocular vision symptoms: Double vision, use one eye when reading, light sensitivity Physiological symptoms: Anxiety easily in a crowded place or in a large space What's the next step?  20/20 just means that a person can clearly see a certain letter on the standard eye chart (equivalent to what a person with normal vision should be able to see at 20 feet). There's so much more to healthy vision than 20/20!  A comprehensive vision exam is recommended for all children (6-18 years) before they start school and every year while they are in school, which cover evaluation of external and internal eye health, color vision and refraction for optical prescription, and screening visual analysis of the functional visual abilities. However, when a child struggles with reading and learning or is not achieving his or her potential, a Neuro-Developmental Vision Evaluation is needed.  In addition, if you have a younger child (toddler to 5 years) who has an eye turn (Strabismus) or lazy eye (

  • Your two eyes work well together? They need to aim, move, and team up. If they don’t coordinate properly, it can cause problems like converge insufficiency difficulty in depth perception.

Eye Focusing Skills

Eye Focusing Skills

  • The eyes stay clear at different distances? Quick and automatic eye focus adjustment is crucial for activities like learning, reading, writing, and sports. Problems in eye focus adjustment can lead to tired eyes, lower reading comprehension, and avoiding close work or other activities.

Eye Movement Skills

Eye Movement Skills

  • Do the eyes show enough muscle control, tracking, fixation, etc.? In school, regular eye movements help the eyes move quickly and precisely along a line of text or from a book to a desk to the board, and so on. In sports, good eye movements help the eyes and hands work together, react quickly to what’s seen, and track things accurately.

 

WHAT IS A NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL VISION EVALUATION?

Neuro-Developmental Vision Evaluation (NDVE) is more detailed than a regular eye check. It lasts about 1 to 2 hours and is done by our vision specialist and therapist, working one-on-one with the patient. The goal is to understand how the visual system handles information, how vision works with other senses, and whether vision is helping or hindering performance. Parents wait in the reception area during the test. Afterward, the scores are calculated and discussed in a separate meeting with our Behavioral and Developmental Optometrist, the patient, and/or the parents. We’ll talk about treatment options at this consultation.

Sometimes, if the issues are complex, the evaluation might take longer. If that happens, our vision specialist will explain everything to you at that time.

RELATED POSTS

Post-Concussions vision problems

Post-Concussions vision problems

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), specifically concussions, is a major health problem in Malaysia, particularly among young adults. After a concussion, individuals often experience Post Trauma Vision Syndrome (PTVS), which can cause symptoms such as dizziness and difficulty coordinating the eyes due to brain damage. PTVS can impact reading skills, balance, and result in headaches or migraines, as well as problems with eye movement, focusing, and convergence. Neuro-Optometric Vision Rehabilitation is a treatment program that assists patients in improving their visual function by addressing these issues.

Treatable Vision Problems That Mimic Dyslexia Symptoms

Treatable Vision Problems That Mimic Dyslexia Symptoms

Children with reading and writing difficulties may be misdiagnosed with dyslexia when the issue is actually related to their eyesight. Dyslexia affects reading abilities in intelligent individuals, but some children may have both dyslexia and vision problems, while others only have issues with their eyesight. Three common eye problems can mimic dyslexia symptoms: difficulty with left and right directions, visual fatigue, and poor eye movement control. Experts in both dyslexia and eye problems should evaluate the child to accurately differentiate between the two. In some cases, a child may have both dyslexia and an eye problem, requiring separate solutions. Consult professionals specializing in dyslexia and eye therapy for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Stroke Visual Expansion Field

Stroke Visual Expansion Field

Hemianopia is a condition causing vision loss in half of the visual field, often due to stroke, brain tumors, or injuries. It affects 1 in 1000 people and one-third of stroke rehabilitation patients. In Malaysia, treatment options include the Peli Lens™, which offers a wider visual expansion field, and vision therapy for scanning. The Peli Lens™ is generally preferred due to its effectiveness and cost-efficiency. The “EP” Expansion Prism system is another tool that helps detect obstacles in the blind field, especially during movement. Its fitting process is simple and affordable, with a 50% acceptance rate at 12-month follow-up.