Do you suffer from frequent migraines? Did you first start experiencing migraines as a child as young as four or five years old? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may have vertical heterophoria (VH), a condition that’s usually not picked up during a routine eye exam.

What Is Vertical Heterophoria?

Vertical heterophoria is a type of binocular vision disorder that occurs when the eyes aren’t properly aligned. If you’ve ever noticed when looking in the mirror that one of your eyes is slightly higher or lower than the other, you may have VH, as facial asymmetry is one of its causes.

Eye misalignment puts a great deal of stress and strain on the eye muscles, causing a variety of uncomfortable symptoms including dizziness and nausea. Unfortunately, because many VH symptoms coincide with those related to other medical issues, it’s often misdiagnosed as vertigo or a migraine disorder. As a result, many patients continue to suffer without improvement because they’re not receiving proper treatment.

What Are the Symptoms?

Common symptoms of VH include dizziness and intensely painful headaches that disappear for part of the day, then return full force. It may also feel like your headache is spreading to the crown of your head (similar to the sensation you feel with sinus pain), along with the temples, and down to the back of your head. The pain can extend as far back as the shoulders and neck. Moving your eyes may also be painful. 

Individuals with VH also frequently develop crippling anxiety, as they feel a sense of disorientation and an inability to perform daily tasks and go about usual day-to-day activities. 

Get Diagnosed & Treated for VH

The aforementioned VH symptoms have led many patients to our practice here at the Clearview Family Eye Center, where our Dr. Seth Salley help diagnose and treat VH and other binocular vision disorders. Imagine how your life could change if you didn’t have to deal daily with intense headaches and migraines, along with other symptoms of VH. Instead of functioning at 50 percent, call now to speak with one of our team members and learn more about our treatment options.