Many patients who suffer with vertical heterophoria find themselves extremely anxious in big open spaces with high ceilings. We feel this happens due to the phenomenon of visual vertigo. There is so much visual input coming in, the person feels overwhelmed. The increase of visual stimulus along with movement causes the dizziness to increases. This then leads to even more anxiety. This can also happen when a person with vertical heterophoria tries to cross a busy street. The dizziness can increase leading to an increase in anxiety. Over time, this anxiety can become so intense that the person can not leave their home. These patients become agoraphobic.
It would be interesting to study how many agoraphobic people have dizziness as a symptom. If the dizziness is caused by vertical heterophoria, prismatic eyeglasses can help.
For more information and to take our questionnaire to see if you have vertical heterophoria or another type of binocular vision dysfunction, visit our website www.nvcofny.com
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