What Do Your Eyes Look Like When You Have a Concussion?

Whenever you hear concussions, just know it has to do with your head having a sudden hit or blow. And with an injury to the brain, it is expected that symptoms will include headaches, memory issues, dizziness, and many head-related problems. But one lesser-known area that can be affected when you have a concussion is your vision.

Your eyes can be affected during a concussion, and those noticeable changes can tell you the extent of your brain injury. Hence, it is important to pay attention to them.

Have you had a sudden blow to your head? Has your injury affected how you see? At Revive Spine and Sport Physiotherapy Clinic in Edmonton, AB, we specialize in concussion rehabilitation in Edmonton and physiotherapy treatments, ensuring our patients receive comprehensive care for all symptoms, including those related to vision.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or sudden jolts to the head. This blow can cause the brain to move back and forth in the skull, damaging brain cells and disrupting normal brain function.

Common causes of concussions include sports injuries, car accidents, falls, bicycle accidents, and assaults, among others.

Concussions can cause various symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Memory loss
• Confusion or disorientation 
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
• Mood changes, such as irritability, anxiety

Common Visual Symptoms of a Concussion

People often experience visual disturbances after a concussion. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, up to 40% of children and adolescents experience blurred vision, light sensitivity, and double vision immediately after a concussion.

Some of these visual symptoms may appear immediately after the injury, while others might develop hours later. Here are the eye symptoms you should look out for after a concussion:

Blurry or Double Vision

Blurred vision and double vision (diplopia) are common visual disturbances people suffer from following a concussion. They occur when the brain struggles to process visual information effectively, causing images to appear unclear or doubled. You can notice this when trying to focus on near objects, such as reading text or looking at a phone screen.

Sensitivity to Light (Photophobia)

Photophobia, or sensitivity to light, is a common symptom of concussions. It can cause discomfort or pain when exposed to bright lights or even moderate lighting. This increased sensitivity occurs because concussions can interfere with how your brain processes light, making the eyes more sensitive than usual.

If you experience any of the following after a head injury, it may be a sign of a concussion:

• Squinting or avoiding bright lights
• Needing sunglasses indoors after a head injury
• Discomfort or pain from moderate lighting

Changes in Pupil Size

The pupils refer to the small, black, and circular openings at the center of your eyes. They control the amount of light that enters your eyes.

Normally, your pupils are equal in size and constrict (become smaller) when exposed to light. However, after a concussion, your pupils may look or act abnormally. You may notice:

• Uneven pupil sizes, or anisocoria
• Delayed pupil reaction, where the pupils take longer to constrict in bright light.

Eye Pain

Some people may experience pain in or around the eyes after a head trauma, especially when trying to focus on objects or during exposure to bright light.

Difficulty Focusing or Tracking

After a concussion, you may experience difficulties with focusing on objects, tracking moving objects, reading, or watching TV. This is often due to issues with the brain’s ability to coordinate eye movements. Concussions can disrupt eye and brain communication, leading to visual challenges.

Depth perception Issues

Depth perception issues refer to problems with judging distances, depths, or spatial relationships between objects. This can make you struggle with everyday activities like walking or driving, climbing stairs, reaching for objects, or playing sports.

That’s because you may find it difficult to judge distances, navigate stairs or curbs, bump into objects, park or drive, or have difficulty with hand-eye coordination.

Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency is a visual condition where the eyes struggle to focus on close objects. Normally, when looking at something up close, the eyes converge (move inward) to align properly and focus.

Convergence insufficiency often results in headaches, eye strain or fatigue, blurred or double vision, and difficulty reading or doing close work.

Twitching or Rapid Eye Movements (Nystagmus)

Nystagmus is a condition characterized by involuntary eye movements, often resulting in shaky or blurred vision. This can occur following a concussion and is a sign of disruption in the brain’s control of eye movement.

What Do Your Eyes Look Like When You Have a Concussion?

Here’s what you may notice about your eyes when you’ve had a concussion:

• Dilated pupils, or pupils of uneven size
• Slowed or delayed pupil reactions to light 
• Misaligned eyes, or eyes appear crossed
• Squinting or avoiding light
• Blinking more frequently
• Eye movements that appear slow, uncoordinated, or jerky
• Difficulty tracking objects or following movements
• Droopy eyelids

How Physiotherapy Can Help with Concussion Recovery

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in concussion recovery by addressing physical, vestibular, ocular, cognitive, and emotional challenges. A physiotherapist can help alleviate symptoms, improve function, and support a safe return to daily activities and sports.

At Revive Spine and Sport Physiotherapy Clinic in Edmonton, our team of experienced physiotherapists offers comprehensive Concussion Rehab Edmonton programs to help patients recover from a wide range of concussion symptoms, including those related to vision. 

Our approach is personalized and may include:

• Vestibular Therapy, especially for patients experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems following a concussion.
• Dizziness and Concussion Rehab
• Concussion Treatment

Conclusion

Wondering what your eyes look like after a concussion? Visible changes include abnormal pupil changes, eye movements, and droopy eyelids. It’s important to seek medical attention once you notice any changes in your eyes or vision after a head injury.

At Revive Spine and Sport Physiotherapy Clinic, we specialize in providing concussion rehab and physiotherapy services to help you recover fully. If you’re in the Edmonton area and need expert concussion care, contact us for Edmonton AB Physiotherapy and regain control of your health.