“How many fingers am I holding up?”

If you’ve ever been asked this question, chances are you’ve had a head injury — perhaps even a concussion. Concussions can cause a number of uncomfortable symptoms, and blurred vision is only one of the telling signs.

A concussion occurs when the brain is jostled hard enough to make contact with the skull. The cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain can protect the brain from light bumps, but serious impact causes serious problems. In fact, if the concussion is bad enough, the impact between skull and brain can cause fatal internal bleeding. Brain injuries are a serious matter, and if the following symptoms do not subside, medical attention should be an immediate priority: vomiting, blurred vision, worsening headaches, slurred speech, poor coordination, or loss of consciousness.

A concussion’s affect on visual skills is worth researching. Concussions can blur one’s vision for a long period of time and also affect one’s ability to focus on or track objects. Luckily, vision therapy and / or a proper eyeglasses prescription can help remedy these issues. If you experience vision-related symptoms, reach out to a qualified vision therapist who can asses your symptoms and help you develop a treatment plan.

Unfortunately, each concussion makes an injured person more susceptible to the next concussion. Many athletes’ careers have been cut short because their brains became continually more sensitive to contact. It’s essential to recognize this worsening pattern before the effects become irreversible.

So what can be done to avoid concussions? The obvious answer is to be vigilant of your surroundings. Whether you’re playing sports or riding your bike to work, keen awareness can prevent an unfortunate head injury. Wearing a helmet is another important precaution, as many serious brain injuries can be avoided with the simple protection of a helmet. Modern helmet technology is impressive, comfortable, affordable, and in the case of bicycle helmets, even stylish. Lastly, it’s helpful to be physically fit — especially in the legs and torso — in order to maintain proper balance in all environments. The longer you can keep your head away from hard objects (like the ground), the less head injuries you’ll have! Isn’t that a great concept?

Concussions and other brain issues are serious, but like most other injuries, steps can be taken to heal and prevent further problems. If you’ve noticed any vision issues associated with your brain injuries, please reach out to Washington Vision Therapy Center today. In many cases, vision can be improved following a serious accident. We wish everyone good sight and many safe adventures!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
http://www.thevisiontherapycenter.com/vision-problems-after-concussions-concussion-symptoms-eyes
http://www.advancedvisiontherapycenter.com/services/sports_vision/concussion_management/