The Dizzy Patient

Dear Dr. Jacobi
I am a partially sighted patient, that due to Macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, relies on magnification. But unfortunately I become dizzy after using magnification for short periods of time.  My doctors tell me that most of my dizziness (vertigo) originates from visual stimuli.  Is there anything I can do?

This is a situation that I am very familiar with!  More than likely, your brain is having difficulty coordinating your eyes. We all have a natural posture to our eyes.  Typically, and surprisingly, it is usually not straight.  That is, there is a deviation from straight that the brain has to compensate for.  As we age and become more readily fatigued, the brain becomes unable to effortlessly make up for it.  The strain causes a poor signal to your vestibular system which is responsible for balance.  This distance is creating your symptoms.

This condition is largely underdiagnosed.  It is a complex process of teasing out the condition and applying very specific prism lenses in combination with magnifying devices.  There are also vision therapy processes that assist patients in riding them of visual dizziness.

You do not have to live with visually induced dizziness!  I have relieved many patients of the condition you are currently struggling with.  We can certainly demystify your diagnosis!

Dr. Jacobi, OD, FCOVD, IALVS