Vestibulo-ocular reflex problem?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Trish Raggens - 13 Jul 2009 02:42 GMT

Hi,

My father gets vertigo and eyestrain after gazing for a while at an
object in the field of vision so he just closes
his eyes all day and lie in bed. He attributed it to incorrect power
in the eyes. After seeing 3 optometrists and opthalmologists for the
past 2 months and 2 sets of eyeglasses. It still occurs and the eye
doctors can't help anymore. Is it possible the problem is in the
Vestibulo-ocular reflex system... maybe some kind of desynchronization
which causes vertigo by simply using the eyes to look around? Does
this really occur and has anyone encountered such cases or situation
before?
Thanks.

Trish

Reply to this Message

Dr Judy - 13 Jul 2009 03:40 GMT

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> in the eyes. After seeing 3 optometrists and opthalmologists for the
> past 2 months and 2 sets of eyeglasses.

Vertigo is almost never an eye problem. Most often an inner ear
problem, sometimes a brain problem. He should see his family doctor
to rule out mini stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, carotid artery
disorders, ear wax, ear infection. He may need to see an ear, nose
and throat specialist and a neurologist.

Dr Judy

Reply to this Message

Trish Raggens - 13 Jul 2009 04:44 GMT

> > Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Dr Judy

But Vertigo can be triggered by simply using the eyes
to gaze, isn't it. In Vestibulo-ocular reflex disorder, isn't
it that it first occurs when the eye is used and
because there is desynchronization as when reading or
looking at an object at a distance, it results in
vertigo. Hence they are related. So I wonder if
you have encounter patients wherein they have
to constantly close the eyes because using them
can result in vertigo.

Trish

Reply to this Message

Dr Judy - 13 Jul 2009 17:08 GMT

> > > Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> But Vertigo can be triggered by simply using the eyes
> to gaze, isn't it.

. So I wonder if

> you have encounter patients wherein they have
> to constantly close the eyes because using them
> can result in vertigo.

Vertigo is triggered by a mismatch between visual sense and the
vestibular sense, ie the eyes tell the brain that the world is not
moving and the vestibular system says that it is moving. But the
fault almost always lies with the vestibular system -- it is incorrect
due to infection or neuritis.

Closing the eyes helps because it removes the mismatch. But the
problem remains with the vestibular apparatus.

Your father needs to see his family doctor or an ENT or a neurologist.

Judy

Reply to this Message

Dan Abel - 26 Jul 2009 20:02 GMT

In article
<07e2be27-d99e-4d14-9e25-ff27c2f69fb4@f30g2000vbf.googlegroups.com>,

> > > > My father gets vertigo and eyestrain after gazing for a while at an
> > > > object in the field of vision so he just closes
> > > > his eyes all day and lie in bed.

> Vertigo is triggered by a mismatch between visual sense and the
> vestibular sense, ie the eyes tell the brain that the world is not
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Your father needs to see his family doctor or an ENT or a neurologist.

In my very limited experience, perhaps it is the lying in bed that is
the solution, not closing the eyes?

Signature

Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
dabel@sonic.net

Reply to this Message