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A New Approach to the Treatment of Anxiety
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A New Approach to the Treatment of Anxiety

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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)?

A New Approach To The Treatment Of Anxiety

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.

  • A 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. The trained NeuroVisual specialists at Vision Specialists of Michigan know just what to look for. After performing an extensive NeuroVisual Examination to verify that the patient does indeed have BVD, our doctors 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 Vision Specialists of Michigan

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. Contact Vision Specialists of Michigan at (248) 258-9000 to find out more about binocular vision dysfunction and get the help you need today.

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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.