Visual Discomfort After a Concussion: Preparing for a Neuro-Optometric Evaluation in Niwot

After a concussion, you might see each word on a page clearly but lose your place by the end of a paragraph. Looking up from your laptop to talk to someone may leave your vision blurry for a moment. At our Niwot office, we use a neuro-optometric evaluation to look at how your eyes move, focus, and work together during tasks like these.

If you develop new double vision, a worsening headache that won’t go away, or repeated vomiting after a head injury, seek emergency care right away.

Notice When Your Symptoms Start

Think of one activity that has become harder since your concussion. If reading brings on a headache, tell us roughly how long you can read comfortably, what you notice first, and how long it takes to feel better after you stop. If you can read a printed page comfortably but scrolling on your phone makes you dizzy, that distinction helps us decide what to check.

A brief note or voice memo is enough. Describe what you’ve already noticed during your day. There’s no need to recreate the discomfort before your visit.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

• The glasses you use for reading, computer work, or distance, even if your prescription hasn’t changed.

• Any visit summaries or referral notes you have from the clinician managing your concussion.

• A current medication list and a few notes about when the injury happened and how your symptoms have changed.

What to Expect During the Evaluation

We’ll start with what matters most to you, whether that’s getting through a class or returning to a full morning of computer work. We may ask you to follow a moving target, shift your gaze between two points, or look at a small letter as it moves closer. These tasks help us see how accurately your eyes track and whether you can keep a nearby image clear and single.

Let us know if a task brings on eye strain, blur, or dizziness so we can pause and discuss what you felt. We’ll explain how the findings relate to your daily activities and whether a change in eyewear, targeted vision therapy, or follow-up with your concussion care team makes sense for you.

Call Niwot Eyecare & Vision Therapy in Niwot, CO, at (303) 652-0505 to schedule your evaluation.