Treating Binocular Vision Dysfunction Caused by Lyme

Learn the overlap between Lyme disease and Binocular Vision Dysfunction and how to address symptoms.

How Does Binocular Vision Dysfunction Relate to Lyme Disease?

Lyme and other tick-borne disease can compound and sometimes cause neuro-visual symptoms. Visual symptoms occur because tick-borne diseases affect processing in the brain. The visual processing dysfunction will alternatively affect cognitive performance and balance related activity.

Symptoms that directly correlate between BVD and Lyme disease include:

Blur
Visual fatigue
Diplopia (double vision)
Headaches associated with visual activities
Photophobia (light sensitivity)
Floaters (spots in the eye)
Memory and comprehension issues
Brain fog
Inflammation
Anxiety
Eye Pain

How Can You Get Better?

Treating Lyme Disease

Medical treatment for Lyme or tick-borne disease can sometimes fully alleviate the symptoms above. This occurs because Lyme can cause inflammation, brain fog, as well as fatigue which can lead to weak eyes and blurry vision. With treatment you may see symptoms go away as you regain strength. However, treatment does not always fully resolve your visual problems. If after treatment you still have symptoms, it means you likely have an underlying condition compounded by your Lyme disease and need treatment focused directly on correcting vision.

Prism Glasses

These special lens are helpful in combatting misalignment of the eyes. A prism added to eyeglasses bends light before it travels through the eye. The light is redirected to the right place on the retina in each eye. The brain then fuses the two images together to produce one, clear picture. In addition, doctors usually prescribe blue light filters to help reduce light sensitivity.

To find out if prism glasses may be needed to help address your symptoms, take the Binocular Vision Dysfunction questionnaire available below.

Take a BVD Questionnaire