If you’re someone who spends a lot of time in front of a computer, you may have experienced headaches, neck pain, and dry eyes. These symptoms may be related to how your eyes and brain communicate. Or, more specifically, how they miscommunicate.

Neurolens glasses are specialty prism lenses for binocular vision dysfunction that can improve visual comfort by realigning your eyes. However, they can cost more than traditional glasses and require specialized fittings. With the help of prism technology, you can see comfortably again.

What Is Binocular Vision Dysfunction?

Our eyes are one of the most complex organs in our body. They work in harmony with our brain to perceive the world around us. However, despite their sophistication, there can be communication breakdowns.

Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) is a condition that affects the way our eyes work as a team. In particular, trigeminal dysphoria, a specific type of BVD, can put strain on your trigeminal nerve, causing symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Neck/shoulder pain
• Eye strain
• Dry eyes
• Dizziness
• Light sensitivity
  

These symptoms can be very debilitating and significantly impact your quality of life.

The Eye-Brain Connection

Trigeminal dysphoria occurs when there’s a mismatch between what each eye sees. Your eyes send signals to your brain via the optic nerve, which then processes these signals and combines them into a cohesive image.

This process is called binocular vision, which allows you to perceive depth, distance, and three-dimensional space. However, when your eyes aren’t aligned properly, your brain can’t stitch this image together. Instead, it has to work much harder. Sometimes, you may not even notice any misalignment until you begin feeling eye fatigue.

What Causes Trigeminal Dysphoria?

Trigeminal dysphoria is a type of binocular vision dysfunction, and so has similar causes, but is generally a misalignment of the eyes. Some people may be born with eye alignment issues, while others may develop them later in life due to:

• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Concussion
• Multiple sclerosis
  

Vision disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can also contribute to binocular vision dysfunction. Additionally, lifestyle factors such as spending long periods in front of a computer or other digital device can strain your eyes and exacerbate the problem.

The Pros of Neurolens Glasses

Neurolens glasses are designed specifically to alleviate painful symptoms like digital eye strain, dry eyes, or headaches by addressing an issue at the source: eye misalignment. While traditional eyeglasses use convex or concave lenses to correct refractive errors, Neurolenses use a “contoured prism.”

Your optometrist uses the Neurolens Measurement Device (NMD) to get precise information about where correction is needed. NMD uses precise eye-tracking technology to measure how your eyes move and focus. The process only takes a few minutes, but afterwards, your optometrist can custom-design the prism lenses for your needs, helping ease your eyes back into alignment. This has proven to be very effective:

• 93% of patients experience relief from symptoms.
• 81.6% reported their chronic daily headaches were substantially reduced after 90 days.
• In a study, 100% of patients suffering from computer vision syndrome responded positively to Neurolens treatment.
  

People tend to squirm and shift their sitting position while experiencing digital eye strain. Neurolens can help eliminate bad posture by reducing eye fatigue and increasing work productivity as an additional bonus.  

The Cons of Neurolens Glasses

Neurolens glasses do come with some downsides you should be aware of before investing in them.

Unlike regular glasses, which most people can wear right away, Neurolens glasses require a few days or weeks of adjustment. During this time, your brain has to recalibrate itself to the altered visual perception caused by the prism lens. This adaptation period may result in temporary dizziness, which can overwhelm some people.

Another drawback of Neurolens glasses is their high cost. The added cost of Neurolens glasses may not be worth it for individuals who only experience mild eye strain and don’t require a drastic visual correction.

Although Neurolens glasses are designed to reduce eye misalignment, they may not be effective in other situations. For example, if you have a prescription for distance vision, holding a book close to your face may still cause eye strain, even when wearing Neurolens glasses.

Likewise, the glasses may not provide significant relief for people suffering from migraines or other headaches unrelated to digital device usage. Therefore, Neurolens glasses may not be a universal solution for all types of visual discomfort.

Neurolens Cost

The cost of Neurolens glasses varies depending on the prescription, the degree of eye misalignment, and the frame style you select. You can generally expect Neurolens glasses to cost more than comparable traditional glasses. They can be made with single-vision, computer, and progressive lenses. The more specialized lenses are at an additional cost.

Discover the New World of Neurolens

Neurolens glasses can relieve digital eye strain, headaches, and even dry eyes—all while improving overall visual comfort. Most find these lenses are worth the extra cost.

MEye Health, your Neurolens provider in Burlington, can measure your symptoms and eye misalignment to determine if Neurolenses can be effective for you. Book your Neurolens exam today and take control of your vision again!