What is Neuro-Optometry?

Defining Neuro-Optometry

Neuro-optometry, or neuro-optometric rehabilitation, is a specialized area of optometry that helps people recover from vision problems caused by brain injuries or neurological conditions. It focuses on how the eyes and brain work as a team and what can be done when that teamwork breaks down.  Unlike regular eye exams that check for glasses or eye health, a neuro-optometric evaluation looks at:

• How well your eyes focus, track, and move together.  

• Whether your vision is affecting your balance, coordination, memory, or concentration.  

• How your visual system is contributing to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, or brain fog. 

Who Can Benefit from Neuro-Optometry?

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help people recovering from:

• Concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) 

• Stroke 

• Long COVID 

• Neurological infections or inflammation 

Even if you have "20/20" eyesight, you may still struggle with symptoms that signal a need for specialized care. These can include: 

• Feeling dizzy or off-balance  

• Trouble reading or driving  

• Poor coordination or clumsiness  

• Light sensitivity or frequent headaches  

• Fatigue or eye strain when using a screen 

What Does Neuro-Optometric Treatment Look Like?

No two brain injuries or visual systems are the same, so your rehabilitation plan is tailored to your exact needs and daily demands. After an in-depth evaluation, your neuro-optometrist selects tools and techniques that retrain how your eyes and brain work together, reduce uncomfortable symptoms, and restore confidence during work, school, or leisure. A comprehensive plan often blends several of the evidence-based approaches outlined below.

Therapeutic Lenses

Specialized glasses or lenses (tinted, prism, or high-plus) change how light enters your eyes and how images land on the retina. By reducing the effort required to focus, fuse, or filter visual information, these lenses quickly calm dizziness, double vision, headaches, and light sensitivity so you can participate more fully in therapy and daily activities.

In-Office Vision Therapy

During sessions with your neuro-optometrist, you’ll work one-one-one with a vision therapist using computerized targets, balance boards, prisms, and other tools. These exercises are designed to improve eye coordination, tracking, and focus, skills essential for reading, driving, and sports.

Home-Based Activities

Your neuro-optometrist may recommend simple, daily exercises to complete between office visits. These may include Brock string alignment, pencil push-ups, or timed visual scanning games to reinforce new neural pathways and keep adapting your visual system every day. 

Multisensory Training™

Crowded supermarkets, busy intersections, and loud restaurants can overwhelm a healing brain. Multisensory Training™ gradually re-introduces layered stimuli like movement, sound, texture, and light while guiding you through visual tasks. This “controlled chaos” teaches the brain to filter distractions and maintain clear, stable vision in real-world environments.

Collaboration with Your Care Team

Your neuro-optometrist will coordinate care with physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, neurologists, and primary physicians. Sharing progress notes and therapy goals ensures every specialist reinforces the same neural networks, producing smoother, faster, and longer-lasting recovery.

Why Haven’t You Heard of Neuro-Optometry Before?

Many patients go months—or even years—without getting the right kind of vision care after a brain injury. That’s because these vision problems often don’t appear on standard eye exams. Many patients are told that their eyes look healthy when they feel miserable, often because providers simply aren’t trained to assess brain-based visual issues. 

If you've been told “your eyes are fine” but you still don’t feel right, it’s time to consider a neuro-optometric evaluation.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Recovery looks different for everyone. Some people experience relief in just a few visits; others need more time and support. The key is to find the right treatment approach, one that treats the root cause, not just the symptoms. 

At a neuro-optometric clinic, your vision rehab journey will be based on your personal needs, goals, and symptoms. This ensures that treatment goes at your pace and provides the best possible results. 

How Do I Get Started with Neuro-Optometry?

If you think you or a loved one might benefit from neuro-optometric care: 

1. Schedule an evaluation with a neuro-optometrist. Find one at neurovisionrehab.org or covd.org.  

2. Bring a list of your symptoms, including those that don’t seem vision-related.  

3. Don’t wait! The sooner you begin care, the better your chance of full recovery.