Your child took a hit in a game. They've seen the doctor, rested, and are starting to feel better. But something is still off. Reading gives them headaches. Screens bother them. They seem dizzy in busy places, or say their eyes feel "tired" all the time.
These lingering symptoms are often visual. And they're easy to overlook during concussion recovery.
Why concussions affect vision
A large part of the brain is involved in vision: moving the eyes, focusing, teaming the two eyes together, and making sense of what we see. A concussion can disrupt any of these systems, even when eyesight on a chart is still 20/20.
Common visual symptoms after a concussion
Headaches, especially with reading or screens
Blurry or double vision
Trouble focusing up close
Losing place when reading
Sensitivity to light
Dizziness or feeling overwhelmed in busy, moving environments
Difficulty tracking moving objects, like a ball
Vision problems that often show up
Convergence insufficiency: Trouble keeping the eyes aligned up close
Accommodative problems: Focusing that tires quickly or won't hold steady
Eye tracking problems: Jumpy or slow eye movements
Visual motion sensitivity: Discomfort in places with lots of movement
Why this matters for school and sports
Visual symptoms can make it hard to return to class, finish homework, or track a ball safely. Left unaddressed, they may stretch out recovery and make it harder for your child to feel like themselves again.
Where a vision evaluation fits
Return-to-play and return-to-learn decisions belong with your child's physician. A neuro-optometric vision evaluation can complement their care by identifying visual problems and guiding treatment. When appropriate, vision therapy can help retrain eye teaming, focusing, and tracking.
If your child has new or worsening symptoms after a head injury, such as severe headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, or weakness, seek medical care right away.
Schedule an evaluation
Hope Vision Development Center provides neuro-optometric vision evaluations and rehabilitation for athletes recovering from concussion, serving families across the Orlando area from our office in Clermont.
Call 352-243-4673 or email pcc@hopevdc.com to schedule. We're at 235 Citrus Tower Blvd., Suite 107, Clermont, FL.