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Through a Patient’s Eyes: ‘I Could Not Believe the Difference’
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Through a Patient’s Eyes: ‘I Could Not Believe the Difference’

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The slight eye misalignments that cause Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) can lead to a variety of symptoms including migraines, headaches and dizziness. It sometimes happens, however, that these symptoms are misdiagnosed. This was the unfortunate experience of Natalie, a patient at Vision Specialists of Michigan, whose BVD symptoms were mistaken for something else.

Years of Vision Challenges

“My background regarding my vision challenges that began in 2009: I was at a medical supply, picking up supplies for someone I was caring for. I am sitting there speaking with them, and realized that I was having an issue seeing.

“I lived very close and went home and I called the doctor, and I went in. And they told me that I was having [an] ocular migraine. My vision did come back, and I thought that it was just a moot point and maybe it would pass. And that was the start of many years of having challenges with losing my vision.

“It was after multiple times of this happening I had one more episode that led me to believe that I had something else wrong. I was driving over the Mackinac Bridge and I lost my vision. And I ended up having to pull over, and my daughter drove the rest of the way.

“They put me on a medication called Propranolol. I went to an opthamologist after I felt that my diagnosis maybe might not be correct and something else was wrong, and he specialized in glaucoma. And he said I did have the start of glaucoma, but he said it was being caused by ocular migraines. So I thought, ‘Okay, I’m just going to stay on the medication.’ 

A Breakthrough

Upon hearing Natalie’s symptoms in casual conversation, an acquaintance recommended she take Vision Specialists’ online screening questionnaire. 

“So I took this test online, which was very easy, and the next day I got a phone call and they said, ‘We think maybe you should come in and visit us.’ And it was the best thing that’s happened in my life since.

“Dr. Sandy started putting these glasses and prisms and building the customized lenses that would allow me to be able to see. I just can’t tell you how wonderful it was. And the testing is so deep and extensive. And by the time I got done and I sat for about an hour and I walked around with these new glasses on and these new lenses, I could not believe the difference in the perception that I had was just amazing. Just amazing. 

“I did not realize how much and how important your vision is when it comes to your everyday walking. And the difference between when I was walking without the glasses, and then walking with the glasses on, it was amazing. I felt very secure, I felt very confident. I didn’t walk with my head down anymore. And by the way – with my new glasses – no more “ocular migraine” symptoms.”

Schedule an Appointment With a Vision Specialist

If you think you may have undiagnosed BVD, give Vision Specialists of Michigan a call at (248) 258-9000 or fill out our online BVD questionnaire to find out more.

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Dr. Sandy DiPonio earned her optometry degree from Illinois College of Optometry in 1996. She is a highly skilled and experienced eye care professional dedicated to giving her patients of all ages excellent and compassionate care. She has a wide variety of experience in binocular vision, pediatric and adult eye care, ocular disease and contact lens fitting. She strives to provide each of her patients the best quality of life they can achieve with their vision through knowledge and education of treatment options.

Dr. DiPonio is a member of the American Optometric Society and Michigan Optometric Society.

Dr. Sally Hoey has been practicing optometry since graduating from Michigan College of Optometry in 2001. During her time in optometry school, she developed an interest in binocular vision, culminating in a senior thesis involving binocular vision.

Prior to joining Vision Specialists of Michigan, Dr. Hoey specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of vision-related learning problems as well as other binocular vision disorders. Her other areas of interest include specialty contact lens fittings and treating dry eye. Dr. Hoey strives to provide her patients with clear, comfortable vision while meeting their individual needs at the same time.

Dr. Hoey had the opportunity to provide eye care on an optometric mission trip to Guyana, South America and vision screenings at a local medical clinic. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, Michigan Optometric Association, Metropolitan Detroit Optometric Society and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Dr. Jennifer Place graduated with honors from Michigan College of Optometry in 2001.

Before joining Vision Specialists of Michigan, she specialized in treating pediatric and adult patients with binocular vision disorders and vision-related learning problems, as well as fitting specialty contact lenses and managing various types of ocular disease. She enjoys working with patients with unique visual needs, and she takes great pride in providing all patients with highly customized care.

Dr. Place has volunteered for Opening Eyes, a program that provides eye exams to the athletes of the Michigan Special Olympics, and she participated in an international mission to St. Lucia to provide eye care to those in need. Dr. Place is a member of the Detroit Optometric Society, the Michigan Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, the College of Vision Development, and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation.

Dr. Mary Jo Ference has been practicing optometry since 1990 upon graduating from Ferris State University- Michigan College of Optometry, and is certified in Low Vision Rehabilitation. She has worked at Sinai-Grace Hospital systems for over 20 years before joining Vision Specialists of Michigan in 2013 to work with binocular vision disorders. Her clinical areas of expertise include visual rehabilitation of pediatric and adult patients who have suffered from brain trauma, injury or disease. She has taught both optometry and ophthalmology residents at Sinai Grace Hospital. Dr. Ference has sat on numerous boards, including Sinai Grace Hospital, Berry Out-Patient Surgical Center, and Seedlings Braille Books for the Blind. She is actively involved in area school districts to provide education, training and access for students, teachers, OT’s and PT’s to eye care service rehabilitation information. Dr. Ference has lectured extensively nationally and internationally.

Dr. Debby Feinberg began practicing Optometry in Oakland County in 1983, upon graduating from Illinois College of Optometry. She joined her father, Dr. Paul C. Feinberg, at Mall Optical Center, which was located in Summit Place Mall.

Since 1995 Dr. Feinberg has been developing the field of NeuroVisual Medicine which is the optometric subspecialty that identifies and treats neurological / medical symptoms that originate directly or indirectly in the visual system.

Dr. Feinberg has been performing pioneering work with Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD), a condition where a vision misalignment (frequently subtle) creates difficulties with the two eyes working together to create a single 3-dimensional image, and difficulties with the two eyes following that image as it moves.

The symptoms caused by BVD are not usually associated with problems with the visual system, and include headache, dizziness, anxiety and panic, persistent post-concussive symptoms, gait instability and balance problems, frequent falls, neck pain, motion sickness, nausea, and reading and learning problems.

In 2004. Dr. Feinberg established Vision Specialists of Birmingham, specifically designing the practice to accommodate the needs of the NeuroVisual Medicine patient.

In 2011, the office moved to its current location in Bloomfield Hills and updated its name to Vision Specialists of Michigan.