Exploring Binocular Vision Dysfunction with Dr. Debby Feinberg

The show features Dr. Kerry Gelb interviewing Dr. Debby Feinberg, an optometrist and founder of the Neuro Visual Medicine Institute. The main focus of their discussion is on binocular vision disorder (BVD), a condition where the two eyes do not work together as a team, leading to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, anxiety, neck pain, and difficulty reading.

Key points from the discussion include:

1. Understanding BVD: Dr. Feinberg explains that BVD occurs when the eyes are misaligned vertically or horizontally, causing significant discomfort and various symptoms. This condition is prevalent in about 20% of the general population and even higher in children with learning challenges and patients with traumatic brain injuries.
2. Symptoms and Misdiagnosis: Many patients with BVD have been to multiple specialists without finding relief. Symptoms often include difficulty reading, eye strain, anxiety, and dizziness. The misalignment of the eyes can lead to psychological symptoms like panic attacks and depression.
3. Treatment with Microprisms: Dr. Feinberg discusses the use of microprisms in glasses to correct the alignment of the eyes. This treatment has shown to be highly effective, even for patients with traumatic brain injuries, with about 80% of patients experiencing symptom relief.
4. Importance of Proper Diagnosis: The conversation highlights the importance of diagnosing BVD correctly, as many patients are often misdiagnosed with other conditions. Dr. Feinberg emphasizes the need for comprehensive testing and analysis to identify and treat BVD effectively.
5. Collaboration with Other Specialists: Dr. Feinberg works closely with ENT specialists to help patients with balance and vestibular issues, further illustrating the interconnected nature of BVD with other bodily systems.

The overall message of the show is to raise awareness about BVD and its symptoms, encouraging patients who have not found relief from other treatments to consider getting evaluated for this condition. Dr. Feinberg’s work demonstrates the significant impact that proper diagnosis and treatment can have on improving patients’ quality of life.

About the Guest

Debby Feinberg, OD, FAAO

Founder & Director of Clinical Instruction

NeuroVisual Medicine Institute

Dr. Debby Feinberg began performing pioneering work diagnosing and treating Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) and Vertical Heterophoria (VH) in 1995. BVD and VH have been found to cause headaches, dizziness, gait imbalance, anxiety, light sensitivity, neck pain, and reading difficulties in approximately 1-in-5 patients. She and her colleagues at Vision Specialists of Michigan have treated more than 30,000 BVD/VH patients with microprism lenses and noise-canceling devices, of which half have been TBI / ABI patients. Her research (presented nationally and internationally) demonstrates that TBI patients with VH experiencing persistent post-concussive symptoms have an 80% reduction in these symptoms when treated with microprism lenses and noise-canceling devices.

Since 2013, over 50 optometrists have successfully completed the NeuroVisual Medicine Training Program and have gone on to help tens of thousands of patients. Dr. Feinberg’s co-founding of the NeuroVisual Medicine Institute is led by her mission to increase access to NeuroVisual care for patients across the globe.

https://nvminstitute.org/