Understanding the Connection Between Vision and the Brain

80-90% of people who experience a mild traumatic brain injury will recover spontaneously within 2-4 weeks but that means for 10-20% of people symptoms will persist. This is Post-Concussion Syndrome or Persistent Concussion Symptoms.

When concussion symptoms persist beyond the expected recovery period, they can affect many aspects of daily life. For example, people may:
a. Have increased sensitivity to light and sound.
b. Experience fatigue during activities such as reading or computer use, along with slower information processing and reduced comprehension.
c. Have difficulty driving because of slower reaction times, visual symptoms, dizziness, or motion sensitivity.
d. Feel disoriented or overwhelmed in busy environments, leading them to avoid crowded places such as shopping centres, supermarkets or public transport.
e. Experience balance problems, dizziness, or unsteadiness.
f. Be unable to return to their previous level of participation in work, school, sport, or other daily activities.
g. Experience sleep disturbances, increased anxiety, irritability, or changes in mood.
h. Experience persistent headaches.

A neuro-optometric assessment is an extension of a comprehensive eye examination. It may include additonal tests such as:
Eye movements and tracking
Eye teaming (binocular vision)
Focusing ability
Depth perception
Balance and visual-vestibular interaction
Visual information processing
Peripheral vision assessment
The findings help determine whether vision is contributing to your symptoms and guide an appropriate treatment plan.
To complete the full scope of assessment, 2 visits are generally required. Some out-of-pocket fees do apply.

A range of treatment options may be recommended depending on your symptoms and clinical findings, including:

Therapeutic Lenses – Specialised spectacle lenses, prisms and tints can be prescribed to improve visual comfort, eye alignment and spatial awareness. The most appropriate combination is selected to help reduce visual symptoms and improve everyday function.

Vision Therapy – An individualised treatment programme designed to develop eye movement control, focusing, eye teaming and visual processing skills, helping the visual system work more efficiently.

Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation – Targeted treatment strategies that address visual dysfunction associated with concussion, stroke and other acquired brain injuries, supporting recovery and improved quality of life.

RightEye® is an advanced eye-tracking system that objectively measures how the eyes move, track and work together. Using sophisticated technology, it can detect subtle abnormalities in eye movements that may not be apparent during a standard examination.

RightEye provides valuable insights into visual function and can assist in the assessment of concussion, acquired brain injury, reading difficulties, balance disorders and other neurological conditions. The results help guide diagnosis, monitor recovery and support personalised treatment and rehabilitation strategies.

Eye movement abnormalities are present in a high proportion of patients with post-concussion syndrome and RightEye provides objective, measurable data to track recovery over time.

BTrackS™ is a sophisticated balance assessment system that provides objective measurement of postural stability and balance function. Using a highly sensitive force plate, the system evaluates how the body maintains balance while standing and can detect subtle deficits that may not be apparent during routine clinical testing.

BTrackS is particularly valuable in the assessment and management of concussion, neurological conditions and fall risk. By providing accurate, measurable data, it helps monitor recovery, guide rehabilitation and support informed clinical decision-making.

When combined with advanced eye movement analysis using RightEye®, BTrackS provides a more comprehensive understanding of how concussion and neurological conditions affect both visual and balance systems.