Neuro-Optometry in Colorado Springs

Name: Bettner Vision
Address: 9205 N Union Blvd #110, Colorado Springs, CO, 80920
Telephone: 719-282-0400

Your Vision and Your Brain

Vision is crucial for proper brain function and is our most dominant sense. Nearly 50% of the brain’s surface area, or cortex, is dedicated to processing vision.

When brain function is compromised, a variety of visual dysfunctions can result. Reduced visual function can significantly impact the quality of life and may even interfere with the ability to recover after a brain injury.

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help. From initial assessment to personalized in-office treatments, the neuro-optometry team at Bettner Vision goes above and beyond to help our patients improve their visual function, allowing patients to regain their quality of life.

Please book an appointment with our specialists today.

Why Neuro-Optometry?

A neuro-optometrist is an eye care provider who has received additional training in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing conditions related to brain injuries and neuro-ophthalmic diseases. Our neuro-optometric services involve a thorough and detailed evaluation of both vision and visual function following damage to the brain.

Research has demonstrated that at least 75-90% of patients experience visual symptoms and dysfunction following brain injuries. Visual acuity is often 20/20 after a TBI; however, this does not correlate to visual function following a head injury. As a result, visual problems can sometimes be overlooked during the initial diagnosis or treatment of a brain injury.

If you notice any changes in your vision following a head injury, tell your doctor or eye care professional immediately.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Acquired brain injury is an injury to the brain that you acquire during your lifetime. Unlike a TBI, it is not caused by a sudden traumatic event. ABI may result from stroke, aneurysm, infections, tumors, or events that cause loss of oxygen to the brain.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury is defined as an alteration in brain function, or other pathology, caused by an external force. The injury may or may not involve a change or loss of consciousness.

TBI can be caused by various events, including concussions, motor-vehicle accidents, falls, sports-related injuries, or blast-related injuries. Everyone is at risk for a TBI.

Neurological Conditions

Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Myasthenia gravis, or others may harm visual function. Some of these conditions may result in vision loss, double vision, peripheral vision loss, eye movement disorders, or visual disturbances.

New vision symptoms may also be an early warning sign for undiagnosed neurological conditions.

At Bettner Vision, we treat patients with many types of vision problems associated with these conditions. We co-manage with neurologists and other specialists to elevate the standard of care for each patient.

Migraines & Headaches

Several types of headaches may cause a variety of visual symptoms. These can include visual auras, light sensitivity, or ocular migraines. Additionally, headaches may be a warning sign for undiagnosed vision conditions, such as hyperopia (farsightedness), binocular vision conditions, or other ocular diseases. If you experience new types of headaches or visual changes, please schedule an eye exam.

The Neuro-Optometry Difference

While you may have had a comprehensive eye exam following your TBI, an additional examination is essential to determine the degree of visual dysfunction to begin a successful neuro-optometric rehabilitation program.

Comprehensive Eye Exam

Neuro-Optometry Exam

A comprehensive eye exam is an important first step in establishing healthy vision and ocular health. This exam measures:

visual acuity (sharpness of vision)
current prescription
overall eye health

Because this exam does not evaluate complex sensory and motor functions in-depth, it is mainly a screening for visual dysfunction.

Going beyond eye health and visual acuity, the neuro-optometry exam is a highly-specialized, in-depth evaluation of visual function and specific symptoms following a brain injury. It involves:

eye muscle assessment
eye tracking
eye alignment & coordination
focusing ability
depth perception
peripheral vision

This exam is key to establishing an effective and personalized neuro-optometric treatment plan.

Common Symptoms of Visual Disorders

Reduced visual function can result in a variety of symptoms including:

Eyestrain
Blurry vision
Double vision
Headache or migraines
Difficulty reading
Dizziness and balance issues
Sensitivity to light
Changes or loss of peripheral vision
Poor concentration
Fatigue and nausea

Most of these symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, or nausea, may be triggered by visual disorders but can be easily overlooked.

Common Post-Brain Injury Vision Conditions

These symptoms are caused by several visual, perceptual, and motor disorders that manifest after a head injury. Some of these conditions include:

Eye Coordination: conditions that occur when your eyes do not work together as a team. The most common condition is convergence insufficiency when your eyes cannot coordinate properly during close work.
Eye Focusing: conditions related to difficulty with accommodation (focusing ability), such as poor flexibility or strength.
Eye Tracking: conditions involving difficulty with eye movements, such as smooth tracking, shifting gaze, and maintaining fixation.
Light Sensitivity: sensitivity to light, or photophobia, such as sunlight or fluorescent lighting. May often result in squinting or straining in various lighting, or may trigger migraine headaches.
Visual Field Defects: partial loss of peripheral vision, resulting in reduced mobility or frequently bumping into objects. This may also impact the ability to drive or cause a greater risk of falls.
Eye Turns: an eye turn, or strabismus, is a condition where both eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. This may result in double vision or eye strain.
Visual Perception: deficit in the way your brain processes and interprets visual information. This can include visual neglect, a common condition which occurs after strokes.

Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Program

Our neuro-optometric rehabilitation involves vision therapy, which utilizes a sequence of neurosensory and neuromuscular activities that are individually prescribed. This treatment plan is monitored closely by a neuro-optometrist to help develop, rehabilitate, and enhance visual skills and processing.

Our neuro-optometrists will design an individualized rehabilitation program according to your exam results, and your unique overall needs and expectations.

Our comprehensive and personalized in-office vision therapy treatments involve consultation with our binocular vision specialists and utilize a variety of different techniques, including:

Therapeutic lenses
Specialized filters
Prism lenses
Functional exercises
Specialized computer programs

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is unique to each individual, just as each head injury is unique. At Bettner Vision, we seek to elevate the standard of care by working as an interdisciplinary team and frequently will co-manage with neurologists, physical or occupational therapists, chiropractors, or other specialists in your rehabilitation team.

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Visit Our Location

Find Us in Colorado Springs

Our Colorado Springs practice is conveniently located in the Marketplace at Briargate, beside Sushi Rakkyo and the T-Mobile store.

Our Address

9205 N Union Blvd #110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Contact Information

Phone: 719-282-0400
Fax: 719-282-1004
Email: [email protected]

Hours of Operation

Monday

8 AM – 5 PM

Tuesday

8 AM – 5 PM

Wednesday

8 AM – 5 PM

Thursday

8 AM – 5 PM

Friday

8 AM – 5 PM

Saturday

By Appointment

Sunday

Closed

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Our Specialty Services

Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute (KSLI)

At Bettner Vision, our keratoconus and scleral lens institute specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with keratoconus – a progressive eye disorder that results in the thinning of the cornea.

Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute (KSLI)

Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in eye anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eye.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in eye anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eye.

Ophthalmology

Pediatric & Binocular Vision Therapy

Vision therapy, sometimes known as orthoptics, is akin to physical therapy for the eyes and brain. It is a non-surgical, customizable set of exercises and activities that aim to resolve symptoms that interfere with visual abilities, motor skills, and brain function.

Pediatric & Binocular Vision Therapy

Neuro-Optometry: Visual Rehabilitation

Our eyes and brain are inseparably linked. Impulses continuously travelling back and forth via the optic nerve ultimately result in what we see and how we see it.

Neuro-Optometry: Visual Rehabilitation

Our eyes and brain are inseparably linked. Impulses continuously travelling back and forth via the optic nerve ultimately result in what we see and how we see it.

Neuro-Optometry