Using Vision Therapy to Reduce Motion Sickness Symptoms

Using Vision Therapy to Reduce Motion Sickness Symptoms

Motion sickness is a common condition that affects many people during activities like traveling in cars, boats, or airplanes. While most people associate motion sickness with the inner ear, vision plays a significant role in contributing to the symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and disorientation. Fortunately, vision therapy is emerging as a powerful tool to help alleviate these uncomfortable sensations.

Vision Problems That Contribute to Motion Sickness

Motion sickness occurs when there is a disconnect between the signals sent to the brain by the eyes, inner ear, and body. Vision-related issues can heighten this disconnect, making it more likely for a person to experience motion sickness. Common vision problems that contribute to motion sickness include:

•       Poor Eye Coordination: When the eyes don’t work together smoothly, they send mismatched signals to the brain, contributing to the confusion that leads to motion sickness.

•       Depth Perception Issues: Difficulty judging distances accurately can cause disorientation and exacerbate symptoms of motion sickness.

•       Focus Problems: Struggling to maintain focus, especially when looking between close and distant objects, can lead to visual fatigue and nausea.

•       Vestibular-Ocular Mismatch: This occurs when the eyes and inner ear send conflicting information to the brain about motion. For example, reading in a moving car can cause the eyes to focus on stationary text while the inner ear senses motion, leading to motion sickness.

Vision Therapy as a Holistic Approach to Motion Sickness

Vision therapy is a customized, non-invasive treatment program designed to improve visual skills and correct vision problems that aren’t typically addressed by glasses or contact lenses. Vision therapy involves a series of guided exercises, both in-office and at home, that help retrain the eyes and brain to work together more effectively. For individuals who suffer from motion sickness, vision therapy focuses on enhancing visual coordination, depth perception, and eye-tracking abilities.

How Vision Therapy Works to Reduce Motion Sickness Symptoms

One of the key goals of vision therapy is to improve how well the eyes work together. By strengthening the muscles that control eye movement and coordination, vision therapy reduces the likelihood of sending conflicting signals to the brain, helping reduce motion sickness symptoms. Vision therapy can also help individuals improve their depth perception, enabling them to judge distances more accurately. This helps reduce disorientation, which is a major trigger for motion sickness.

Many vision therapy exercises are designed to improve focus flexibility, or the ability to switch between near and far objects smoothly. This skill is particularly useful for travelers who experience motion sickness while reading or using electronic devices in moving vehicles.

Vision therapy can help reduce the disconnect between what the eyes see and what the inner ear senses. By improving how the eyes track movement and stabilizing the gaze, individuals may experience fewer motion sickness episodes when traveling or engaging in activities that involve movement.

Is Vision Therapy Right for You?

If you struggle with frequent or severe motion sickness, vision therapy may be a valuable treatment option to consider. By addressing the underlying vision-related issues that contribute to your condition, vision therapy can help you reduce or even eliminate your motion sickness symptoms, allowing you to participate in the activities you love without the discomfort and disruption of this common condition.

To learn more about how vision therapy can help reduce your motion sickness symptoms, contact Gun Barrel Family Eyecare & Dry Eye Center. We can evaluate your vision and develop a customized treatment plan to address the root causes of your motion sickness. Visit our office in Gun Barrel City, Texas, or call (903) 418-3300 to book an appointment today.