Whiplash goes far beyond a pain in the neck. Anyone in a car accident should be thoroughly examined by a medical professional not only for pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, but for headaches and vision problems as well. Visual symptoms of whiplash are not nearly as common as muscular and ligament symptoms, but they are very serious and need medical attention when they are noted.
Visual symptoms from whiplash are not symptoms of whiplash, but they are caused by the same explosive force that caused whiplash. This is why patients who experience visual problems from an accident typically experience whiplash as well. The force that grips the body as it tries to brace itself through the force of the accident can cause damage in ligaments, muscles, joints and nerves located in the head, neck, and shoulders.
The most common visual symptoms from whiplash include:
- A black circle seen in the center of the field of vision in one or both eyes which is caused by swelling in the macula (located in the center of the retina).
- Blurred vision which is often caused by a nerve defect from the force in the accident.
Other visual symptoms may occur as well. Any visual abnormality should be reported to a medical professional immediately.
Many patients who are diagnosed with visual symptoms from whiplash also experience headaches, vertigo, and other side effects caused directly by whiplash or the powerful force that caused the whiplash to begin with.
Visual Symptoms from Brain Injury
There have been studies that show the visual symptoms endured after an accident may be caused by brain injury in some cases. There have been many different studies into the cause of blurred vision and other visual disturbances and it appears that some cases may be related to injury in the brain rather then whiplash in the neck or spine.
This is why it is so important that anyone experiencing even slight visual disturbances or changes after an accident report it to a medical professional so they can be tested for brain injury and other potential causes. It should never be shrugged off as just a side effect of whiplash.
Reporting Visual Symptoms from Whiplash
Visual symptoms from whiplash are believed to be drastically underreported, since they don’t always set in immediately after an accident. While you may feel the tension in your neck or have a headache after going through the trauma of an accident, you might not notice the visual distortions until a day or two has passed. Since immediate onset doesn’t always occur, it is believed that many people who suffer visual symptoms from whiplash do not realize that their problems were caused by the accident or whiplash.
In some cases, the visual distortions can be subtle or just a bit annoying, so the patient may never report it to a medical professional. This is especially true if it goes away along with other symptoms of whiplash.
If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident, it is very important to alert a medical professional to any visual symptoms of whiplash. Even if you are uncertain that the visual disturbances were caused by the accident, it is important to bring it up to your doctor and have it checked out.
Doctors can now run tests to determine the cause of the visual problems, so you will be able to determine whether whiplash, brain injury or just the force of the accident was the cause of the visual disturbance.
This article is considered general information only; please consult a medical professional concerning your specific condition.
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