Vision problems after a concussion are common. They are often temporary and include issues such as blurry vision, trouble focusing, and light sensitivity.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head. It can happen to anyone, but is common in athletes, children, and older adults.
Concussion symptoms can range from mild to severe and often include symptoms such as a temporary loss of consciousness, headache, nausea, balance issues, and vision problems.
Usually, concussion-related symptoms are short lived, but they occasionally cause lasting effects.
Read on to learn more about vision problems after concussion and how long they last.
About 90% of people with traumatic brain injuries will have visual changes. Not all visual changes happen right after a concussion, and they may take a few days to develop.
In most cases, these visual issues will resolve within a
Visual symptoms
- glare or light sensitivity
- double vision
- reduced eye-tracking ability
- trouble focusing
- blurred near vision
- spatial disorientation
- reduced depth perception
- trouble with balance and posture
- loss of eye alignment (binocular vision)
- difficulty in changing gaze direction
How long vision problems last depends on how severe your concussion was.
Vision problems after a concussion are either due to damage in the eyes, muscles surrounding the eyes, or in areas of the brain involved in vision. Your vision problems will typically repair themselves once these areas have time to heal.
For most children and adolescents, this usually takes about 4 weeks. Older adults and people with more severe concussions may take longer to heal.
In some instances, vision problems and other symptoms after a concussion can continue for several months. Working with a vision specialist may help improve any lasting issues.
There is no conclusive at-home test to diagnose a concussion. However, there are certain observations you can make at home to help determine whether or not you need further medical attention.
If a concussion is present, you may notice:
- Dilated pupils: Pupils that are round and larger than normal could indicate a concussion.
- Uneven pupils: Different sized pupils could indicate a head injury.
- Oval pupils: Oval-shaped pupils could be a sign of increased intracranial pressure (pressure inside the skull).
- Slow or no reaction to light: Pupils should get smaller in response to direct light. A concussion could be present if there is a slow reaction, or no reaction at all.
Not everyone’s eyes will appear different after a concussion, and these changes alone don’t diagnose a concussion. However, if you do notice any of these differences in your pupils, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor.
Other signs to look for include:
- difficulty reading
- blurred vision
- eye fatigue
- atypical eye movement
In most cases, vision changes after a concussion are temporary.
The time it takes your vision to heal after a concussion will vary from person to person. This depends on how severe the injury was, the specific areas of injury, and how much rest you receive following the injury.
While permanent vision changes are possible, most vision problems will resolve. For longer lasting issues, working with a specialist may help minimize long-term vision difficulties.
Treatment for vision problems after a concussion is related to general concussion treatment. In order to heal following a concussion it’s important to:
- rest
- limit activities that make symptoms worse
- avoid overstimulating environments
- avoid digital screens
- wear sunglasses to reduce light sensitivity
vision training with a specialist
While treatment for vision problems after a concussion is generally supportive in nature, there is emerging evidence that early intervention with a specialist may improve outcomes, especially in children.
If you’re having vision problems that last longer than a few weeks, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor.
Also, if your vision problems change significantly or get worse, you should contact your doctor regardless of how long it has been. It might be time to see an eye specialist such as an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or neuro-optometrist.
Vision problems after a concussion are common, and include issues such as blurred or double vision, reduced depth perception, and trouble focusing.
How long vision problems last after a concussion will depend on the severity of your head injury, your age and overall health, and the area of your brain or visual system that has been injured.
If your vision problems last longer than a few weeks, or change significantly, check in with your doctor to see if you should contact an eye specialist.