Friday, March 20, 2015

A Binocular Vision Dysfunction Success Story




I would like to share this wonderful testimonial from a patient of mine.  After suffering for many years, she is now not only working full time, but also going to school at night.  I am amazed at how much she has accomplished this past year. 




Prior to being treated by Dr. Cheryl, I constantly felt off balance. I had suffered from frequent migraines since I was 12 years old. I often suffered from neck/ back pain, and always felt like I was straining my neck and/or tilting my head to focus on the computer. My family had always noticed that I walked a bit sideways as well, but they attributed that to me being “clumsy”.  I had awful anxiety about walking down flights of stairs or through the mall, as I always had this irrational fear of falling.  I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression, as I would tend to avoid social situations where I felt uncomfortable or not in control. At my annual eye exam, Dr. Cheryl asked how my migraines had been. I casually mentioned that I was having dizzy spells and felt off balance. As Dr. Cheryl went through a series of questions, it seemed like she was reading off a script of my symptoms. She started to explain  binocular vision dysfunction and asked if I would consider a neuro visual test that may be able to determine if I was a candidate for the type of treatment she was involved in. I was skeptical, but desperate.
The tests administered by Dr. Cheryl produced black and white, concrete results. I was blown away by how clear it was that this “visual vertigo” I was experiencing was not only completely legitimate, but treatable. My skepticism disappeared immediately when Dr. Cheryl had me wear a trial pair of glasses with prisms in them.  I felt taller, grounded, and completely in control.
My glasses have made a tremendous difference in my everyday life. I feel balanced and aware of my surroundings. I no longer catch myself tilting my head while reading through pages of documents on my computer, or tilting my head to get a better view of the TV. It is more than a change in my prescription or a “clearer view,” it is an entire perspective change. I have not had a single migraine in 6 months - I am still in shock when I say those words. My dizzy spells have subsided, as well. When I am not wearing my glasses, which is rare, I can immediately feel the difference in my equilibrium. I would never have guessed that all of these symptoms and subsequent issues, were vision related. Dr. Cheryl was 100% supportive and genuinely concerned about my comfort and progress throughout this whole journey. I would, without hesitation, recommend her to anyone that suffers from these symptoms. She is a true life saver and is passionate about investing her time and energy into this growing field.
-A. S.

1 comment:

  1. Can this be an acquired syndrome? If so, what is the mechanism behind it? Would the migraines have to be treated for the ocular muscles to start working in tandem again, or does it become more of a central nervous system dysfunction because of the biofeedback loop of erroneous signals from cervical sensory and motor involvement? Thanks!

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