Vision problems after concussion

Some people who have had a concussion may notice that their eyes don’t seem to work in the same way or that they cannot see as well as they used to.

After a concussion, you may have problems like:

• Blurry vision, double vision, eye strain and sensitivity to bright lights
• Trouble judging distances for things like walking on stairs and parking a car
• Trouble watching television, reading or spending time on the computer. These tasks may take longer than usual, make you feel more tired or cause headache.

These changes should get better after a while.

What can I do?

• Wear polarized sunglasses when going outside.
  
  
• Change the brightness and make the font/print size larger on your computer.
  
  
• Keep glare from your computer screen. Make sure there is no reflection on your computer screen from a lamp or outside light. Try using an anti-glare filter on top of your computer screen.
  
  
• Use larger print fonts when reading. Try putting a blank piece of paper or ruler under the line you are reading to help your eyes to move smoothly from one line to the next.
  
  
• Try placing a see-through transparent colour tinted sheet over white paper when reading. This helps reduce visual stress and glare and can help you see the page more clearly. You can get coloured plastic index dividers at your local dollar store. Try different colours to see which one works best for you.
  
  
• Try to limit your time on the computer and reading. Staring in one place puts strains on your eyes. Look away from the computer every now and then to rest your eyes.
  
  

Remember that mental fatigue can make symptoms worse. Take breaks and rest your brain.