- Visual dependence is caused by the weakening of the balance systems (body and inner ear), leading to an overreliance on sensory information from the eyes.
- The most common symptoms include dizziness, imbalance, motion sickness, and fatigue triggered by visual stimuli.
- These symptoms are often provoked by excessive visual input, such as busy or irregular environments, moving and/or open spaces, moving objects, or movements that make it difficult to maintain eye focus.
Dizziness and Imbalance Caused by Visual Motion Sensitivity
We maintain balance using sensory information from the body, eyes, and inner ears. Visual motion sensitivity occurs when input from the eyes is overemphasised compared to signals from the body and inner ears. This is why the condition is also known as visual dependence.
Visual dependence results from impaired functioning of the body’s muscles, tendons, and inner ear balance organs, leading to an overreliance on visual input. When visual information is disrupted, such as by corridors, patterns, open spaces, moving objects, or distances, it can trigger dizziness and a sense of imbalance. Symptoms often worsen with movement but may also appear when standing still.
Symptoms of Visual Dependence
A related sensation is a fear of heights, where difficulty focusing the eyes produces imbalance. In this case, psychological factors play a larger role than physiological ones. Unlike dizziness caused solely by functional eye disorders, visual motion sensitivity involves the broader balance system, including sensory input from the body and inner ear.
Common Symptoms and Experiences
- Large moving objects create a sense of imbalance, unsteadiness, or dizziness.
- Visual patterns (e.g., on floors or walls) make movement feel uncertain.
- Objects moving in different directions, such as in a crowded shopping centre, cause imbalance.
- Fast-moving objects (e.g., a bird flying nearby) can elicit a startle response, resulting in momentary imbalance.
- Distances and open landscapes may trigger a fear of heights.
- Shaky videos cause discomfort and imbalance.
- Driving, especially in tunnels, can provoke symptoms.
- Motion sickness may occur in conjunction with the condition.
- Fatigue and anxiety often follow recurring symptoms.
- Over time, symptoms may limit daily activities, leading individuals to avoid situations that trigger them.
Treatment and Rehabilitation of Visual Dependence
Treatment is individualised. It most often includes exercises to improve general balance and vestibular rehabilitation to enhance head-eye coordination.
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