While many people have never heard of Vertical Heterophoria (VH), for those affected by this little-known condition, life can be extremely difficult. Not only does VH cause uncomfortable and sometimes painful physical symptoms when left untreated, it can also make simple daily tasks and activities such as driving the kids to school or even just walking down the sidewalk nerve-wracking and sometimes even dangerous.
To help you better understand this serious vision dysfunction, Vision Specialists of Michigan describes some of the concerning symptoms of VH to be on the lookout for, as well as how our unique treatment methods help our patients finally find relief.
Words Moving Around on the Page
When the words seem to move on the page, or when the letters seem to vibrate or shimmer, it understandably becomes very hard to read. As reading is such a fundamental part of all we do, it can be extremely disruptive to daily life. This phenomenon is very hard for children to describe, and in many instances they actually think this is how their vision is supposed to be.
Balance Issues
Vertical Heterophoria can also affect the vestibular system, disrupting one’s sense of balance. When your body feels off-balance, you’re more likely to fall. This can make what should be effortless actions – such as stepping off curbs, going up the stairs or even transitioning between surfaces as you walk – perilous.
Debilitating Migraines
Though most everyone experiences the occasional headache, severe migraines are on another level. Migraine sufferers are extremely sensitive to light and sound, which make the throbbing pain and pressure worse. As a result, having a normal conversation – let alone getting any work done – is next to impossible. The location of migraine can vary, but is generally felt in the eyes, sinuses, forehead, temples, back of the head and neck.
Becoming Dizzy While Driving
Patients with VH frequently experience dizziness and nausea, and there’s nothing quite as terrifying as experiencing dizziness while driving down the highway surrounded by other cars. The dizziness is usually brought on by seeing cars whiz past on the freeway, or even just going around a curve. Drivers who have dizzy spells while driving tend to become disoriented and confused, causing them to become a danger to themselves and those around them. Many also become extremely anxious, not knowing when and where the dizziness will next strike. For this reason, many avoid highways and take the backroads. And as if this was not enough, for some with VH, when at a stop, they may start to feel like their car is creeping backward when in reality it is the other car that is creeping forward.
Find Relief at Vision Specialists of Michigan
If you experience frequent dizzy spells, migraines, balance issues or reading problems, it’s crucial that you schedule a binocular vision evaluation with the qualified NeuroVisual Specialists at Vision Specialists of Michigan. We can definitively diagnose your condition and prescribe treatment, if applicable.
Our treatment method involves the use of glasses with customized aligning micro-prism lenses, which are designed to correct the visual misalignment that causes VH in the first place. Our specialized training and many years of experience working with patients who have this condition enables us to change lives. If you think you may have VH, we can change your life too! To find out more, give us a call at (248) 258-9000 or fill out our BVD questionnaire.
