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The Hidden Visual Problems that Follow Traumatic Brain Injury

Jun 24, 2026 | Insights & Articles

Not unlike stroke, it’s common for visual problems resulting from Traumatic Brain Injuries to go unnoticed during the initial treatment of the injury. All too often, the visual side effects that accompany a brain injury are neglected because they may be hidden. This significantly complicates the survivor’s recovery, particularly in other areas of rehabilitation. Our vision is arguably the most essential source of sensory information because it is so complex, processing different types of information from your eyes, body and your brain. Because vision depends entirely on the brain’s health and function, Traumatic Brain Injuries can easily disrupt how visual information is processed.

What are the symptoms?

Since Traumatic Brain Injury causes Neurological Vision Impairment, and not physical damage to the eye itself, there is a unique set of symptoms to be aware of.  If you experience any of the following, approach your physician to explore the possibility that you may be suffering from neurologically induced impaired vision:

  • Loss of Visual Field
  • Aching eyes
  • Seeing Double
  • Blurred or blurry vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • If words appear to move on the page
  • Headaches

How Traumatic Brain Injury Affects Your Vision

A traumatic brain injury can impair your vision in a variety of ways, and these changes can hinder different aspects of your recovery. One example is eye tracking — the eyes’ ability to move smoothly across a printed page or follow a moving object. When this is affected, reading becomes difficult. Closely related is fixation: your ability to quickly and accurately locate and inspect a series of stationary objects. This too has a serious impact on how effectively you can read.

A traumatic brain injury may affect several other visual functions as well. Focus change, also known as accommodation, is your ability to shift your gaze from far to near and back again quickly while keeping everything in clear view. Depth perception is your ability to judge the relative distance of objects — how your brain knows how near or far things are from you and from one another. Peripheral vision is your ability to interpret what is happening at the edges of your visual field. All three play a role in rehabilitation and daily life, and they are especially crucial for operating a motor vehicle safely.

Binocularity, or two-eye vision, is your ability to use both eyes together, and it has a significant impact on the overall quality of your sight. A brain injury can also affect your ability to visualize — to picture thoughts or events in your mind, to form mental images, and to retain and store those memories for later recall. Finally, it can affect visual perception itself: your ability to understand and make sense of what you have seen.

Understanding how a traumatic brain injury affects your vision is only half the picture; it is just as important to understand how your vision affects your recovery and overall quality of life. Strong visual skills are essential for processing information efficiently. When your vision is compromised, every task becomes harder, and your energy can shift away from healing and toward simply getting by. A traumatic brain injury takes a toll on survivors in many ways — but never underestimate the power of your sight.

Patient Testimonials

David, United Kingdom

“I am most happy with what NovaVision did for me, after suffering an Occipital Lobe Stroke in December 2017 that caused eyesight loss and also cognitive problems.

I was looking for answers , after ruling out Peli prism glasses I couldn’t get on with, my Wife found NovaVision on the internet.

Whilst I still have Homonymous hemianopia to my left side vision field in both eyes, NovaVision did help me learn how to use my remaining eye sight to the full, helping me gain my driving licence back too.

Without doubt having Homonymous hemianopia is such a terrible condition to live with on a daily basis.

I thought my life was over, but it wasn’t and Nova Vision was a key factor in helping me rebuild my life back to some normality.

I highly recommend this therapy and can’t believe the Health Service in the United Kingdom don’t use it.

Thank you for everything you did for me.”

Fiona, United Kingdom

“I am very impressed with NovaVision. There was little to help after my stroke when my peripheral vision was affected, either from the National Health Service here in the UK, or privately. NovaVision seemed comprehensive, evidence based, effective and professional so I thought I would try. You need perseverance as it is a commitment to do two sessions a day 6 days a week for 6 months but it is workable, flexible, and the team is incredibly supportive. My aim in doing this course was to drive again. When I went for a vision test for driving, the optician was very impressed with the health of my eyes, the improvement in my general vision and I passed 100%. Due to NovaVision, I have strengthened my eyes generally and my prescription has gone down! My eyes are stronger. I would not be independent, driving, and on my way back to work as a Community Specialist Nurse without NovaVision. I wonder what I can achieve at the end of 6 months. This is only my third month! Thank you to the team and the programme.”

Cristian B., Australia

“Having a stroke at a young age of 35 was initially a very challenging experience. I was diagnosed with quadrantanopia (quarter of my peripheral vision loss) and I was unable to drive or read properly and, worst of all, doctors were telling me to get used to this condition, as it is unlikely to make a full recovery.

I insisted I wanted to try to regain as much of my vision as possible and I was introduced to NovaVision. From the initial conversation with Sigrid, I knew that there is hope as the narrative was different than from my doctors – NovaVision’s goal was restoration, not compensation.

I am currently on an extension and completing month 8 of VRT and still seeing improvement, documented in monthly reports and tests, which also help with Income Protection insurance benefits. I was able to resume driving and my reading skills have improved significantly. I continued improving well beyond the initial 6 months and I am very grateful! Thank you NovaVison!”

Randy, PA, USA

“May 2019 I had a stroke affecting my occipital lobe and leaving me with a left peripheral vision deficient. The OT that came into my room gave me no hope that it would ever return. The first neurologist ophthalmologist also gave me the same diagnosis even though I had by that time had some vision return. The visual field test then showed I would lose my driver’s license. My wife wasn’t satisfied with that being all that could be done and found another doctor that said NovaVision could be an option since I was getting some vision return. It was also showing on my visual field test that vision was returning but still not enough to drive. I started the NovaVision VRT in October. Twice a day for 6 days a week. It was grueling and required schedule changes in my day but as the months passed my vision steadily improved. At six months I took the visual field test with my doctor and still was not able to pass because of the state’s guidelines for peripheral vision. My doctor and I decided that another 3 months of NovaVision would be beneficial. I still showed improvements and to give up seemed like a bad idea. August 2020 was my last visual field test with my doctor and I am happy to say that with the therapy NovaVision and my consistency with completing the therapy daily, I passed and will now keep my driver’s license, my job, and my independence. I am thankful to my doctor, NovaVision, and my wife for believing in me and supporting me during this 9 month journey. I think we figured out that over the past 9 months I clicked on over 216,000 stimulus all well worth it.

Thank you for your support and Kindness over these past 9 months.”

TK – Ohio, USA, 50 (19.6% Improvement)

“In March 2005, I had a major stroke on the right side of the brain, rendering the left side of my body weak and paralyzed. The stroke really impacted my vision. Reading became very difficult because I could not easily see where the line of text began on the left. I would misread price tags when shopping because I couldn’t see the numbers on the left. $29.95 would look like $9.95. I became startled when people would approach me from the left side because they seemed to suddenly jump out at me.

I learned about VRT from someone who suffered from a stroke and benefited greatly from NovaVision. The doctor who had recommended that therapy to that patient was tentative about the treatment. I settled into a routine of doing VRT twice a day, half an hour at a time. It was psychologically good for me to be working on something at home. It helped to get monthly results from NovaVision to check my progress. I also listened to music to make the time go by faster.

After VRT, my reading is much better and scanning a computer screen is much easier. I can ride a bicycle now with confidence and now I don’t have to concentrate as hard to see on the left. I still have to scan the environment a little, but I am more comfortable getting around. Because of VRT, I do not feel startled so often.

I am enthusiastic about my results from VRT. I know VRT is responsible for the improvements I’ve had in my vision.”

CM – Canada, 48 (18.1% Improvement)

“I had a surgery 6 years ago that caused my vision loss. After three months of doing VRT, I have seen big improvements in my vision. VRT has helped my vision in numerous ways; my reading ability improved, I can scan much better, read at ease, walk with confidence, turn corners much easier, and rarely do I run into anything. I give credit to VRT which has strengthened my vision and helped me drive again. I live a normal and active life now.”

LF – Missouri, 39 (33.1% Improvement)

“My vision began coming back after the first month of NovaVision VRT, which really surprised me. With each month of therapy, I kept getting better. Now, after several months of therapy, my general vision seems to be back to normal. I passed a driving test, and now I am able to drive safely and without difficulty. My grandchildren are allowed to ride with me again. I feel really lucky to have regained so much vision, particularly since I was told I had lost it for good. I feel so much better than I felt a year ago when I felt I was at my worst, and my vision is still improving. It is amazing how much VRT has helped me.

After VRT, I am more comfortable going places and I can read normally now and enjoy the newspaper. I have returned to my favorite hobby of rebuilding my three cars, including a 1940 Ford, and driving my boat at the lake. I feel like I’m back to normal.”

Annette – Michigan

“6 years ago I lost vision in my right eye. It was black optic nerve stroke. Doctors said I’d never see again out of that eye. But unwilling to give up I discovered NovaVision on the internet. And asked to be put in a trial case study. With the help of NovaVision I restored my eyesight in my right eye from pitch black to 20/15 in six months. I was amazed. Then suddenly this year June 14th 2015 I woke up with massive blurred vision in both eyes. Unknown cause, eye health normal, suspected optic nerve problem. Unable to work put on medical leave but after two months completed NeuroEyeCoach and one month of VRT therapy. I’m happy to say I can drive again and read street signs. And even information on products that small lettering. I am so thankful without NovaVision in my life. I’d been half blind. But amazingly enough I’m completely getting my vision back once again. Every day it’s clearer and I will be returning to work soon. Thank you to NovaVision. You have saved my eyesight twice in my life.”