Binasal occlusion is a vital technique in neuro-optometric rehabilitation that reduces visual stress and enhances clarity for patients with double vision. Our experienced eye doctors utilize this strategy to improve overall visual function.
Binasal occlusion is a strategy for partially covering the visual field in each eye by blocking the nasal side, or the area closest to the nose. It helps reduce visual stress and prevents issues like cross-fixation by emphasizing proper binocular function. This technique is an important tool in neuro-optometric rehabilitation, especially for patients experiencing visual challenges after neurological injuries or conditions.
Binasal occlusion involves covering the portion of each eye’s visual field that is adjacent to the nose. By doing so, only the portions of the image normally fixated by each eye are left available for detailed vision, which can help reduce conflicting visual information. Essentially, when both eyes receive slightly mismatched input, problems such as diplopia (double vision) or binocular rivalry may arise; binasal occlusion minimizes these conflicts.
Our eye doctors employ this technique to alleviate symptoms associated with several visual conditions. Unlike a conventional eye patch—which entirely blocks the vision of one eye—binasal occlusion maintains some degree of peripheral or side-field input, ensuring that the patient retains necessary spatial awareness. In this way, patients can benefit from improved balance and clearer depth perception while reducing strain.
When we look at the world, each eye captures a slightly different image, and our brain’s task is to merge these into one coherent view. In some conditions, such as esotropia or what is also known as Cianci’s syndrome in young patients, the eyes do not align properly. This misalignment can lead to cross-fixation, where one eye will unintentionally take over fixation for objects that should be focused by the other eye.
By occluding the nasal sectors of both eyes, binasal occlusion limits input from these overlapping areas. This reduction in redundant or conflicting visual information helps to “de-stress” the image processing in the brain. A hypothesis presented in a 2017 study suggests that this stationary occlusion provides a fixed reference point, ultimately assisting the brain in decoding visual information more efficiently, especially for patients suffering from Post Trauma Vision Syndrome and related issues.
Schedule a consultation with our caring eye doctors to learn how binasal occlusion can help you regain stability and comfort in your vision.
Binasal occlusion is used as part of a broader neuro-optometric rehabilitation strategy to help individuals with a variety of visual conditions improve their visual stability and comfort. Conditions that may benefit include:
For patients with binocular vision dysfunction, issues like blurred vision, motion sickness, eye pain, and poor depth perception are common. Binasal occlusion creates a simpler visual environment, reducing the workload on the brain, and often leading to significant improvements, especially when combined with other therapies such as vision therapy and specialized prisms.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and strokes can significantly disrupt the visual processing centers within the brain. With an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States suffering TBIs annually, and up to 90% of these patients experiencing some form of visual deficit, the need for innovative interventions is clear. As nerve fibers become disrupted in the brainstem, equilibrium and spatial orientation systems may fail, leading to imbalance and visual disorientation.
Binasal occlusion is particularly helpful in these cases because it emphasizes the role of peripheral vision. By removing the possibility of cross-fixation, patients are encouraged to rely more on the parts of their vision that remain intact. Our eye doctors have observed that many patients who incorporate this technique report feeling more stable and secure while navigating unfamiliar or crowded environments.
This added sense of stability can be crucial not only for visual clarity but also for overall safety in daily activities. When the conflicting signals between the two eyes are suppressed, the brain has a more consistent reference for spatial orientation, which can result in improved balance and gait. It’s a simple yet effective way to recapture a more normal, unified visual experience.
Schedule a consultation with our caring eye doctors to learn how binasal occlusion can help you regain stability and comfort in your vision.
Binasal occlusion helps reduce visual stress, improving conditions like double vision and aiding in neuro-optometric rehabilitation.
