Many people assume that if they can read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, their vision is functioning normally. However, eyesight is only one part of vision. After a concussion, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other neurological condition, the brain may struggle to process visual information even when the eyes appear perfectly healthy. A neuro-optometric evaluation looks beyond eyesight to identify how your brain and visual system work together and whether those changes are contributing to your symptoms.
What Is Neuro-Optometry?
Neuro-optometry focuses on the relationship between the eyes, the brain, and the nervous system.
Unlike a routine eye exam, which measures visual acuity and checks for eye disease, a neuro-optometric evaluation examines how your brain processes visual information and how efficiently your eyes function together after a neurological event.
Many patients seek neuro-optometric care after experiencing:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Concussion
- Stroke (cerebrovascular accident or CVA)
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Vestibular disorders
- Long COVID with neurological symptoms
- Other neurological illnesses or injuries affecting vision
These conditions can change the way your brain interprets visual information, even when your eyesight remains clear.
Can a Brain Injury Affect My Vision?
Yes.
Vision involves much more than seeing clearly.
Nearly half of the brain helps process visual information. When a neurological injury disrupts these pathways, patients may experience symptoms that affect nearly every aspect of daily life.
Common symptoms include:
- Double vision
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Poor balance
- Difficulty concentrating
- Motion sensitivity
- Eye fatigue
- Difficulty navigating crowded environments
- Problems reading or using digital devices
- Feeling overwhelmed in visually busy places
Many patients don’t immediately connect these symptoms to their vision because their eyes themselves may be healthy.
Dr. Richard Durocher explains that neurological vision disorders often cannot be detected during a routine eye exam because they involve how the brain processes visual information rather than the health of the eye itself.
Why Can I Still See 20/20 If Something Is Wrong?
One of the biggest misconceptions about vision is that clear eyesight means your visual system is functioning properly.
A routine eye exam answers questions like:
- Can you see clearly?
- Do you need glasses?
- Are your eyes healthy?
A neuro-optometric evaluation answers different questions:
- Are your eyes working together?
- Is your brain accurately processing visual information?
- Is your visual system contributing to dizziness or balance problems?
- Are neurological changes affecting how you interact with your surroundings?
Many patients who schedule an evaluation with Dr. Richard Durocher have already been told they have “perfect vision.” Despite those reassuring findings, they continue struggling with symptoms that interfere with work, driving, reading, and daily activities.
When Should Someone Consider a Neuro-Optometric Evaluation?
You may benefit from a neuro-optometric evaluation if you continue experiencing visual or neurological symptoms after a head injury or neurological diagnosis.
This includes patients recovering from:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries often disrupt communication between the brain and the visual system. Even a mild TBI may lead to persistent symptoms that continue long after the initial injury.
Concussion
Some concussion symptoms improve within weeks, while others remain for months or years. Vision frequently plays an important role in post-concussion recovery.
Stroke (CVA)
A stroke can affect areas of the brain responsible for visual processing, eye movements, peripheral awareness, and balance.
Patients sometimes assume these changes are permanent when specialized neuro-optometric rehabilitation may help improve visual function.
Other Neurological Conditions
Neuro-optometric care may also benefit individuals experiencing neurological vision symptoms related to other medical conditions affecting the brain or nervous system.
Why Haven’t Other Medical Tests Found the Problem?
Patients often arrive at OPMT Vision Centers after visiting several specialists.
They may have already seen:
- Neurologists
- Primary care physicians
- ENT specialists
- Ophthalmologists
- Emergency physicians
- Physical therapists
Many have undergone:
- MRI scans
- CT scans
- Vestibular testing
- Routine eye examinations
- Yet their symptoms continue.
That is because many neurological vision disorders are functional rather than structural.
An MRI may show that the brain appears stable while still being unable to reveal how efficiently your visual system performs during everyday activities.
Dr. Richard Durocher explains that diagnosing these conditions often requires specialized testing designed specifically to evaluate neurological visual function rather than simply identifying structural disease.
How Does Neuro-Optometry Fit Into My Healthcare Team?
Neuro-optometric rehabilitation works alongside your existing medical care.
Depending on your diagnosis, your care team may also include:
- Neurologists
- ENTs
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Primary care physicians
- Rehabilitation specialists
Likewise, if Dr. Richard Durocher identifies symptoms that suggest another medical condition, he may recommend additional referrals to help ensure every aspect of your health is evaluated.
This collaborative approach allows every provider to address the part of recovery within their area of expertise while working toward the same goal: improving your quality of life.
What Happens During a Neuro-Optometric Evaluation?
Every evaluation is tailored to your symptoms and medical history.
Dr. Richard Durocher and his team begin by gathering a detailed understanding of your health history before performing comprehensive functional vision testing.
A Detailed Medical History
Dr. Richard Durocher reviews:
- Previous neurological injuries
- Concussion history
- Stroke history
- Current symptoms
- Previous testing
- Earlier treatments
- How your symptoms affect daily activities
Even events that occurred years ago may help explain your current symptoms.
Comprehensive Functional Vision Testing
Testing goes beyond measuring eyesight.
Dr. Richard Durocher evaluates how your visual system performs during real-world tasks by examining areas such as:
- Eye coordination
- Peripheral vision
- Eye alignment
- Depth perception
- Balance integration
- Neurological visual processing
These findings help determine whether vision contributes to your neurological symptoms.
What Happens After My Evaluation?
Once testing is complete, Dr. Richard Durocher discusses:
- Your diagnosis
- Whether your symptoms involve neurological vision dysfunction
- Which treatment options may help
- Whether additional referrals are appropriate
Every treatment plan is individualized.
Depending on your diagnosis, recommendations may include:
- Updated prescription lenses
- Prism lenses
- Neuro-optometric rehabilitation
- Additional neurological evaluation
- Coordination with other healthcare providers
The goal is to improve how your brain and visual system work together while helping reduce symptoms that interfere with everyday life.
Why Choose Dr. Richard Durocher for Neuro-Optometric Care?
Recovering from a neurological injury often requires more than one healthcare provider.
Dr. Richard Durocher has extensive experience evaluating patients with vision-related symptoms following concussion, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions. Together with his team at OPMT Vision Centers, he combines advanced diagnostic technology with individualized treatment plans designed around each patient’s unique needs.
Dr. Durocher remains committed to evidence-based care, continuing education, and collaboration with neurologists, ENTs, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers whenever appropriate. His goal is to help patients better understand their symptoms while developing a personalized path toward recovery.
Schedule a Neuro-Optometric Evaluation With Dr. Richard Durocher
If you’ve experienced a concussion, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or another neurological condition and continue to struggle with dizziness, headaches, double vision, poor balance, or visual fatigue, you don’t have to navigate recovery alone.
Dr. Richard Durocher and his team at OPMT Vision Centers provide comprehensive neuro-optometric evaluations designed to uncover vision problems that routine testing may miss. Contact OPMT Vision Centers today to schedule your evaluation and learn how specialized neuro-optometric care can become an important part of your recovery.