Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is a complicated but underdiagnosed visual disorder which impacts the eye coordination. It is not always observed during regular eye check-ups, although it might have a great influence on everyday life. BVD may be a factor in case you have ever experienced chronic headaches, dizziness, or just an unexplainable pain when reading or using screens.
Learning about BVD, its symptoms, and diagnosis may be the key to living normally in people with unexplained visual and physical symptoms. This article describes the typical symptoms of BVD, the diagnosis, and what a complete binocular vision test involves.
Binocular Vision Dysfunction is a situation where the two eyes do not work together and coordinate effectively. Each eye may be 100% perfect in itself, but in the brain, the pictures are somewhat different from each eye in case eyes are not well aligned. So the brain tries too hard to combine these images into one and this is the reason why many times people experience a variety of symptoms that are unpleasant and uncomfortable.
Individuals with BDD might not realize that their problems have a visual origin. Their pain is often confused with migraines, anxiety or neurological issues, particularly since the initial eye misalignment symptoms are often not noticed during regular vision check-ups.
Knowing BVD visual symptoms entails seeing it as the disagreement of the two eyes to work together normally rather than an issue of eye clarity or sharpness.
The symptoms of BVD are wide-ranging and may be confused with different diseases. BVD symptoms that are frequently mistaken for those of other diseases. Common symptoms of BVD include:
Children who have BVD might manifest the above symptoms in poor reading comprehension, behavioral problems, or even refusal to participate in activities that require visual concentration. Adults may consider it tiring or too challenging to drive, work, or even move around a grocery store.
The identification of this symptom pattern may become the initial hint that it is time to request a more specialized assessment.
Compared to the commonly known refractive issues, BVD is a condition that needs a detailed and a more specialized diagnostic process.The first step to diagnosing BVD is to know that the usual eye tests are not always sufficient.
A proper diagnosis is a very detailed one which includes testing for visual acuity, and also checking the ocular motility and the coordination of the two eyes.
It is very important to have an in-depth talk about the symptoms before the start of any physical exam. In order to recognize the patterns related to binocular vision dysfunction, patients might be given a symptom questionnaire to fill out. The questions include issues with the vision such as the visual discomfort, photophobia, trouble with reading, unsteadiness, or even other problems of everyday life.
Such a first assessment is instrumental in deciding if the disorder of binocular vision is behind the symptoms.
Full binocular vision test entails more than eye chart tests. It is meant to identify even minor misalignment or coordination problems between the eyes.
Cover-Uncover Test - This is a test which is used to identify minor eye misalignments by covering one eye at a time.
Vergence Testing - Tests convergence (turn in) and divergence (turn out) of the eyes in a focus at varying distances.
Saccadic and Pursuit Eye Movements - Tests the smoothness of eye movement and the ability to move attention between points.
Stereopsis Testing - Tests depth perception and three-dimensional vision.
Accommodation Testing - Tests the capacity of the eyes to move between close and distant objects.
These tests give an understanding of the quality of eye alignment, tracking, and communication with the brain. Little eye teaming misalignments or inefficiencies are the suspects of the aggravating symptoms of BVD.
When someone is diagnosed with binocular vision dysfunction, it is necessary to link the test results to the patient's real-life impressions. There isn't a single "pass or fail" outcome. On top of that, determining the condition means a thorough investigation of the signs, the eye function tests, and the patient's visual history.
Experts who know the proper way to test for BVD are able to find those kinds of dysfunctions which are usually overlooked in simple examinations. Hence, the right diagnosis plays a vital role in not only leading the treatment which actually solves the problem at the source but also in avoiding the mere symptom management.
If BVD is misdiagnosed or left untreated, it can have a negative impact on work, study, and daily life. Children might be wrongly labeled as having attention problems, and adults may experience some kind of discomfort for a long time without knowing the reason. Many symptoms can be reduced or even removed after a timely diagnosis because it recognizes the source instead of just treating the symptoms.
Since what BVD really is often remains quite vague even for those who are not familiar with the condition, a great number of people have the disorder for years before they get their diagnosis. That's why it is very important to get a proper binocular vision check if your symptoms keep happening and you have no explanation for them.
Typically, when a binocular vision dysfunction diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment is quite simple and non-invasive. The majority of the cases are treated with prism lenses - a particular type of glasses that change the way light enters the eyes and thus, lessen the effort of the visual system. A few instances of vision therapy might also be suggested. It includes the performance of certain exercises under the guidance of a professional, which are aimed at better eye coordination, strengthening of visual processing and less dependence on compensatory habits. The main thing about these methods is that they do not only shield against symptoms but they also deal with the root cause of the misalignment.
Knowledge on the diagnosis of BVD is crucial to individuals who have unexplained visual or physical symptoms that influence their quality of life. Simply giving a new refraction for glasses may be not enough in all cases—sometimes the issue may be the way the eyes work together rather than the level of each eye's vision.
By a comprehensive symptom analysis and a special binocular vision test, people get the opportunity to know the truth that has been hidden from them so long. If a person has problems with reading, headache happening very often, dizziness, or being overly sensitive to the light, then BVD could be the cause of such symptoms and, therefore, it can be regarded as a treatable condition when correctly recognized.
