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Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Vision Training Methods for Sports Concussion Mitigation and Management
Published on: May 5, 2015
Vision and Concussion: Symptoms, Signs, Evaluation, and Treatment
Christina L Master1,2,3, Darron Bacal4,5, Matthew F Grady1,3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Insights
Visual symptoms are common after concussion in children. Early screening and management of vision problems like convergence insufficiency are crucial for recovery and returning to school and play.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Sports medicine
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Concussion is a common childhood injury with frequent visual symptoms in children and adolescents.
- Visual deficits can significantly impact a child's ability to return to school and physical activities.
- Spontaneous recovery occurs in most cases within 4 weeks, but some require specialist intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of screening, identifying, and managing visual symptoms post-concussion in pediatric patients.
- To guide clinicians on necessary assessments and potential interventions for visual disturbances after concussion.
- To emphasize the role of early management in mitigating long-term effects on quality of life.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of vision-specific history taking.
- Detailed examination of the visual system, including acuity, ocular alignment, smooth pursuit, saccades, vestibulo-ocular reflex, near point of convergence, and accommodation.
- Discussion of potential specialist referrals for persistent symptoms.
Main Results:
- Visual symptoms are prevalent after concussion in pediatric populations.
- Specific visual functions like convergence and accommodation are frequently disturbed.
- Early identification of deficits can inform necessary learning accommodations and interventions.
Conclusions:
- A thorough visual assessment is warranted for children and adolescents following a concussion.
- Prompt management of visual symptoms, such as convergence or accommodative insufficiency, is vital for optimal recovery.
- Addressing visual deficits can improve a child's quality of life and facilitate return to daily activities.
Abstract:
Visual symptoms are common after concussion in children and adolescents, making it essential for clinicians to understand how to screen, identify, and initiate clinical management of visual symptoms in pediatric patients after this common childhood injury. Although most children and adolescents with visual symptoms after concussion will recover on their own by 4 weeks, for a subset who do not have spontaneous recovery, referral to a specialist with experience in comprehensive concussion management (eg, sports medicine, neurology, neuropsychology, physiatry, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology) for additional assessment and treatment may be necessary. A vision-specific history and a thorough visual system examination are warranted, including an assessment of visual acuity, ocular alignment in all positions of gaze, smooth pursuit (visual tracking of a moving object), saccades (visual fixation shifting between stationary targets), vestibulo-ocular reflex (maintaining image focus during movement), near point of convergence (focusing with both eyes at near and accommodation (focusing with one eye at near because any of these functions may be disturbed after concussion. These deficits may contribute to difficulty with returning to both play and the learning setting at school, making the identification of these problems early after injury important for the clinician to provide relevant learning accommodations, such as larger font, preprinted notes, and temporary use of audio books. Early identification and appropriate management of visual symptoms, such as convergence insufficiency or accommodative insufficiency, may mitigate the negative effects of concussion on children and adolescents and their quality of life.
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