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Neuro-Optometry & Binocular Vision Dysfunction in the Okanagan
If your vision feels off, even though your eye exams have been normal, the issue may be related to how your eyes and brain work together.
At A B See Optometry, we provide specialized testing to find and treat these issues—so you can feel more comfortable and confident in your vision.
When Should You Consider Neuro-Optometric Care?
Struggling with headaches, eye strain, or reading, even though your eyes are “fine”? You’re not alone.
Many children and adults are told their vision is normal, but still experience:
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Headaches or migraines
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Dizziness or motion sensitivity
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Blurry or double vision
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Difficulty reading or focusing
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Eye strain with screens
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Poor depth perception
These symptoms are often caused by a problem with how the eyes and brain work together, and have nothing to do with how clearly you can see.
Neurological Conditions That Can Affect Your Visual Function
Same Vision, Different Story
Many neurological conditions can lead to vision changes. Common examples include:
45-60% of concussions result in visual coordination problems, such as difficulty reading, light sensitivity, double vision and headache.
Strokes affect how our eyes interpret information, our eye coordination and our peripheral vision.
Multiple sclerosis can cause blurry vision, double vision and other eye coordination problems.
Parkinson's disease affects eye muscle movement control and can often result in double vision and blurry vision.
CP can affect how the muscles move to align.
Read about ASD and vision here.
Read about ADHD and Vision here.
Vision tracking and coordination issues are more common in children and adults with dyslexia and can compound reading difficulties.
What is binocular vision dysfunction?
Binocular vision dysfunction occurs when the eyes are not working together as efficiently as they should.
Even small coordination issues can make visual tasks feel harder than they need to be. Your eyes may struggle to stay aligned, maintain focus, or move smoothly—especially during activities like reading or screen use.
Common Types of Binocular Vision Dysfunction
Convergence insufficiency occurs when the eyes have difficulty working together at near. This can make it harder to maintain clear, single vision during tasks like reading, especially over longer periods.
Accommodative dysfunction affects how the eyes focus. It can make it difficult to keep things clear up close or shift focus between distances comfortably and efficiently.
How do I know if I have binocular vision dysfunction?
Binocular vision dysfunction isn’t always obvious—and it often isn’t detected in a standard eye exam.
A Visual skills assessment will determine whether your eyes are working together efficiently and if treatment would be helpful.
Why an Eye Coordination Problem is often missed
Most routine eye exams focus on how clearly you can see - if you have 20/20 vision or need new glasses
But they often do not test how the eyes work together as a team to align, track and focus together.
That means you can:
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Pass a standard eye exam
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Be told everything is “normal”
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Still struggle every day
At A B See Optometry, we go beyond basic vision testing with our Visual Skills Assessment to assess how your visual system is actually functioning. Our Epic Eye Exams for Children and Adults also include a basic Visual Skills Assessment.
Treatment for Eye Coordination problems
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Options may include:
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Vision Therapy to improve eye coordination, tracking, and focusing
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Specialized glasses to help relax the focusing or alignment systems
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Prism lenses to help remove strain from the visual system
Book a Visual Skills Assessment to determine what treatment option is right for you.
FAQs
If something about your vision does not feel quite right, but you are not sure why, these common questions may help.
This can happen when your eyes are not working together efficiently. Your vision may appear clear, but your brain is compensating behind the scenes, which can lead to fatigue, discomfort, or difficulty concentrating.
This is often related to how your eyes coordinate and maintain focus over time. When your visual system is under strain, tasks like reading or screen use can become tiring more quickly than expected.
If you find yourself rereading lines, losing your place, or avoiding reading altogether, it may be related to how your eyes track and work together, rather than a problem with eyesight itself.
Some people experience discomfort in environments with a lot of visual input, such as grocery stores, screens, or movement around them. This can be related to how the brain is processing visual information.
Schedule a Consultation With One of Our Optometrists in Kelowna
Patients with neurological conditions or unexplained vision changes should schedule a neuro-visual assessment. Identifying and managing neuro-optometry and binocular vision dysfunction early can improve daily function, comfort, and quality of life.
