Understanding Neuro-Optometry: What Is It and Who Can Benefit?

What is Neuro-Optometry?

Neuro-optometry, or neuro-optometric rehabilitation, is a specialized area of optometry that focuses on helping individuals who experience vision issues caused by brain injuries or neurological disorders. This field focuses on the vital connection between the eyes and the brain, aiming to restore coordination and function between them.

Unlike regular eye exams, which primarily assess eye health and visual clarity, a neuro-optometric evaluation looks at:

• How well your eyes focus, track, and move together.  

• Whether your vision is affecting your balance, coordination, memory, or concentration.  

• How your visual system is contributing to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, or brain fog. 

Who is Neuro-Optometry For?

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation can be especially helpful for those recovering from:

• Concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) 

• Stroke 

• Long COVID 

• Neurological infections or inflammation 

Even if you have 20/20 vision, you may still experience symptoms that require specialized care. These can include:

• Feeling dizzy or off-balance  

• Trouble reading or driving  

• Poor coordination or clumsiness  

• Light sensitivity or frequent headaches  

• Fatigue or eye strain when using a screen 

What to Expect from Neuro-Optometric Treatment

Each brain injury and visual system is unique, so your neuro-optometric rehabilitation plan will be carefully designed to address your specific needs and lifestyle. After a thorough evaluation, your neuro-optometrist will recommend the most effective tools and strategies to help retrain how your eyes and brain work together, reduce symptoms, and restore confidence in your daily activities—whether at work, school, or during leisure. Your personalized treatment plan will integrate a combination of evidence-based techniques suited to your situation.

Therapeutic Lenses

Specialized lenses, such as tinted, prism, or high-powered lenses, are used to alter how light enters your eyes and how images are processed by your retina. These lenses help reduce the effort required for focusing, aligning, and filtering visual information, relieving symptoms like dizziness, double vision, headaches, and light sensitivity. By easing these symptoms, therapeutic lenses help you engage more effectively in both therapy and daily life.

In-Office Vision Therapy

In vision therapy sessions, you’ll work directly with a skilled therapist who will use specialized tools like computerized visual targets, balance boards, and prisms. These exercises are specifically designed to enhance eye coordination, tracking, and focus—key skills that are essential for reading, driving, and performing well in sports.

At-Home Exercises 

To complement your in-office therapy, your neuro-optometrist may recommend simple daily exercises to do at home. These might include activities like Brock string exercises, pencil push-ups, or visual scanning drills. These exercises are meant to reinforce new neural connections and support the continuous adaptation of your visual system.

Multisensory Training™

Overwhelming environments, such as crowded areas or noisy streets, can be difficult for a brain in recovery. Multisensory Training™ gradually reintroduces multiple stimuli, such as light, sound, and movement, while guiding you through visual tasks. This method trains your brain to filter distractions, helping you maintain clear, stable vision in everyday situations.

Collaboration with Your Healthcare Team

Your neuro-optometrist will work closely with other members of your healthcare team, including physical and occupational therapists, neurologists, speech-language pathologists, and your primary care physician. By sharing updates and therapy goals, your entire healthcare team ensures that all aspects of your recovery are aligned, promoting smoother and more efficient progress.

Why Neuro-Optometry Is Often Overlooked

Many individuals dealing with brain injuries or neurological conditions experience vision problems but don’t get the specialized care they need. This is often because traditional eye exams do not identify these specific brain-related vision impairments. Patients are often told their eyes appear healthy, despite experiencing ongoing discomfort, as many eye care professionals are not trained to recognize visual issues caused by neurological conditions.

If you've been told your eyes are fine but still struggle with persistent symptoms, it may be time to consider a neuro-optometric evaluation.

How Soon Will You See Results?

The recovery process with neuro-optometric rehabilitation varies from person to person. Some individuals experience noticeable improvements after just a few sessions, while others may need more time for significant results. The key to effective recovery is treating the root cause of your symptoms rather than just addressing the surface-level effects.

Your neuro-optometric rehabilitation plan will be tailored to your specific needs, goals, and symptoms, ensuring that the pace of treatment is aligned with your recovery, leading to the most effective outcomes.

How Do I Get Started with Neuro-Optometry?

If you think you or a loved one might benefit from neuro-optometric care: 

1. Schedule an evaluation with a neuro-optometrist. Find one at neurovisionrehab.org or covd.org.  

2. Bring a list of your symptoms, including those that don’t seem vision-related.  

3. Don’t wait! The sooner you begin care, the better your chance of full recovery.