Do you or someone you know suffer from generalized anxiety disorder or panic attacks? Anxiety disorders may include an extreme, irrational and often debilitating fear of crowded areas or enclosed public spaces. It is this fear that leads some people to become afraid of leaving their own homes, which of course greatly affects their quality of life and their ability to provide for their needs. Doctors don’t really know what causes anxiety disorders, but treatment usually involves some type of anti-anxiety medication. But what if the fear and anxiety is actually being caused by a vision-related issue like binocular vision dysfunction (BVD)?
Symptoms of Vision-Related Anxiety
Binocular vision disorders are caused by a misalignment of the eyes that result in tired, overworked eye muscles which causes people to not be able to process visual stimuli correctly. In busy, crowded places such as shopping malls, they are often overwhelmed by dizziness and vertigo and struggle to keep their balance. This is an understandably frightening experience, and the fear of not knowing when another episode is going to strike can quickly lead to anxiety and panic attacks. Other symptoms of anxiety and vision-related problems include:
- A dislike of busy carpet and wallpaper patterns.
- Avoidance of large, crowded places like stadiums, auditoriums, churches and synagogues.
- A feeling of safety in places that aren’t too busy.
- Avoidance of escalators.
- fear of driving or riding on the passenger’s side of the car.
Using BVD Treatment to Conquer Anxiety and Vision Symptoms
As most physicians and eye doctors aren’t familiar with BVD or trained to treat it, it’s not surprising that the true source of their patient’s anxiety is often overlooked. NeuroVisual Medicine specialists know just what to look for. After performing an extensive NeuroVisual Evaluation to verify that the patient does indeed have BVD, specialists will then prescribe a pair of customized eyeglasses with aligning prismatic lenses. These special glasses work almost immediately to correct the misalignment of the eyes, providing much-needed relief to patients who previously felt little hope of ever having their anxiety get better.
Get Your Life Back With NeuroVisual Medicine
If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety that isn’t responding to traditional treatments, a binocular vision problem may be the culprit. Start by taking the BVDQ™ Assessment to learn if BVD is causing your symptoms.
Curious if you have Binocular Vision Dysfunction?
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