New Optometry Technology Addresses Eye Dryness and Headaches Caused by Vision Misalignment

Optometry and eye care specialists have recently discovered a link between neurology and vision caused headaches. It now appears that people experiencing dry, gritty and burning eyes could be suffering from vision misalignment, something that a new piece of optometry technology is able to address.

Doctor of optometry, Paul M. Karpecki of the Kentucky Eye Institute and Gaddie Centers, spoke about his surprise at the link. “The fact is that eye alignment wasn’t one of those things that I would think of,” Karpecki told Primary Care Optometry News. “It took the expertise of those in the field to realize that, yes, it is very common for patients to have symptoms that mimic dry eye secondary to binocular misalignment.”

Jeffrey P. Krall, OD, is credited with his work in discovering misalignment and convergence insufficiency in patients. Krall has found that patients can suffer from both problems and experience headaches and dry eye symptoms. Krall´s work has shown that headaches can be triggered by neurology and vision.

“The fact is that eye alignment wasn’t one of those things that I would think of” Karpecki said. “It took the expertise of those in the field to realize that, yes, it is very common for patients to have symptoms that mimic dry eye secondary to binocular misalignment.”

Eye care specialist Krall begin his research over six years ago. Karpecki supplied him with 10 patients for various tests. The patients had the typical symptoms of dry itchy eyes. However, none of the patients responded to the treatment traditionally given to dry eye patients. Krall´s testing later showed that 90 percent of the patients identified had visual misalignment.

Krall´s research has shown that central and peripheral vision work in concert. If the two are misaligned, the brain becomes overworked in its compensation to align them properly. Due to the brain working overdrive, the symptoms of dry eyes can form and lead to headaches. To improve optometry eye care for patients suffering from misalignment, Krall and eyeBrain created the SightSync. The device measures ocular misalignment in eye care patients.

By segregating the peripheral and central vision during a patient´s eye care test, optometrists can assess a patient´s complete binocular vision. This will then measure the compensation at near and optical infinity. After years of prescribing medicine and other treatments to patients as they combat chronic headaches, Krall and company have a new treatment.

“We have found a way to measure the misalignment and fit patients with NeuroLenses to alleviate their symptoms”; Krall explained. “In the past, I don’t think we have equated these symptoms to the cause for some reason.”

The technology of NeuroLens helps a “patient´s compensation curve and the progressive prism reduces or eliminates binocular misalignment at all viewing distances”. Patients who once suffered headaches can now be diagnosed properly and see the benefits of NeuroLens.