Living with Vision Loss Low Vision Aids Visual Impairment Product Low Vision Assistive Technology Low Vision Magnifiers

What is Tunnel Vision?

‘Tunnel Vision’ is quite a self-explanatory term, isn’t it? If you want it even simpler, it is a condition when your eyes’ field of vision is narrowed down to an extent that you can’t see sideways like you used to previously without turning your head sideways.

That is why it is also referred as the ‘peripheral vision loss’ or ‘tunnel vision syndrome’, your inability to see through the outer edges of your visual field. You can either have a temporary tunnel vision or may become its victim permanently.

This write-up is not only about what tunnel vision is, but it also sheds a light on what are some of its major causes and symptoms, and what can be the best way to treat your loss of peripheral vision.

Tunnel Vision Causes and Symptoms

You can lose your peripheral vision due to a myriad of reasons depicted by a host of symptoms. Some major of them include:

Glaucoma

According to the American Optometric Association it has been declared as the second-leading cause of blindness in the U.S. Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure inside the eye (there can be other reasons behind raised intraocular pressure as well), eventually damaging the optic nerve. This is when blind spots start appearing through the visual field of people suffering from this disease.

So, whenever you feel like you’re experiencing any possible symptoms of glaucoma, in addition to the vision tunnel itself, such as blurriness or cloudiness of vision, seeing halos around lights, nausea/vomiting and severe pain in the eye, you better consult your ophthalmologist immediately, because early glaucoma diagnosis can help you get better care and prevention.
Cataracts

Cataract is an eye condition resulting from the clumping of the protein making up your eye, eventually clouding the lens and affecting your field of vision. However a particular type of cataract forms in the center of the lens (referred to as ‘nuclear cataract’), but in many cases, it also starts damaging the lens from its edges, leading to peripheral vision problems.

Some major symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, seeing two images of a single item, extra sensitivity to light, problems seeing things at night and seeing colored objects as faded or yellowish. Though there are different types of cataract surgery options, but the best thing for you is to resort to natural ways of cataract prevention.
Retinitis Pigmentosa

It is a progressive eye disease targeting and damaging the light-sensitive cells in your retina, known as the ‘rods and cones’, which collect the visual information that’s transmitted to your brain. The resulting vision loss often begins with peripheral vision loss. Unfortunately, researchers haven’t been able to pinpoint the cause of retinitis pigmentosa (though many link it to genetic malfunctioning) and no cure of the disease exists until now, however, there are low vision assistive devices like IrisVision that offer a dedicated RP mode which expands the user’s field of view.
Retinal Detachment

As the name indicates, retinal detachment involves detachment of the retina from the back of the eye. The visual symptoms of the disease cause flashes and floaters in the peripheral vision region, restricting the field of vision sometimes and leading towards the loss of peripheral vision. Retinal detachment is treated as a vision-threatening emergency. That’s why you are advised to immediately consult an ophthalmologist in case you observe any signs and symptoms of retinal detachment.
Ocular Migraine

Ocular migraines are quite different in nature as compared to the migraine headaches some of you or your loved ones might have experienced. These remain painless in most of the cases. However, anyone suffering from ocular migraines is expected to experience a kind of scintillating shimmer in their visual field with the possibility of halos appearing around objects and peripheral vision loss. Luckily, these migraines are harmless and their symptoms subside within a matter of minutes.
Stroke and Concussion

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes, someone dies of stroke as reported in 2020 by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blood flow to the brain is disrupted due to stroke, depriving the brain of oxygen and essential nutrients. Dizziness, confused feelings as well as different visual disturbances including peripheral vision loss may result from stroke. Concussion also leads to similar symptoms.
Choroideremia

An extremely rare genetic condition affecting the visual capability that mainly affects the male segment of the population (National Institute of Health). Vision loss continues to affect the victims of this genetic eye disease over a period of years, eventually leading to the total loss of peripheral vision.
Injury Induced Blood Loss

Under certain circumstances, injury induced blood loss in large amount can also lead to tunnel vision.
Alcohol Induced Intoxication

Excessive alcohol consumption can also affect your vision, sometimes even afflicting your peripheral vision to the level of tunnel vision syndrome.
Hallucinogenic Drugs

LSD (also known as ‘acid’) is one of the most common examples of hallucinogenic drugs. Other common varieties include ecstasy, psilocybin (‘magic mushrooms’), squid juice, and so many more. Such hallucinogenic drugs have been known to induce peripheral vision problems, sometimes also leading to tunnel vision temporarily or permanently.
Medication

Not only limited to excessive alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs’ consumption, peripheral vision problems have also been associated with more mundane medication like nitroglycerin, brimonidine, scopolamine and a host of others. Peripheral vision loss is listed among the most common side effects related to the above listed medications. So, make sure to consult a doctor before using any kind of medication.

Tunnel Vision Treatment

Losing peripheral vision or getting affected by tunnel vision is likely to affect your life in a lot of different ways. It not only robs you of your ability to see things properly, but it also snatches away the independence and convenience that you enjoyed once in living your life.

As mentioned earlier, tunnel vision syndrome can hit you in different manners, which can be temporary as well as permanent, affecting your quality of life either way. Degenerative eye diseases like glaucoma end up inflicting peripheral vision loss permanently, whereas other conditions like concussion and alcohol abuse are most likely to lead you to temporary loss of peripheral vision.

Unfortunately, even with today’s medical advancements, no viable treatment is available in instances when you lose your side vision due to retinal disintegration. That’s why ophthalmologists insist so much on taking good care of your eyes to ensure optimal eye health, an aspect of which is to get regular eye exam. This helps doctors diagnose any possible eye problems as early as possible, making sure to take best care of them in due time.

Moreover, there are certain low vision aids, which when combined with appropriate visual rehabilitation, can help tremendously in augmenting your receded vision. IrisVision is one such amazing initiative, specially designed electronic glasses that are revolutionizing the low vision aids industry with their groundbreaking technology, helping countless people suffering from low vision conditions due to various eye diseases including tunnel vision syndrome.

In the video below, Brandy Darby from the ‘Rehabilitation Center for the Blind’ describes her personal experience with the IrisVision and how it helped her reclaim the joys of her life once again after being subjected to hopelessness and fear of not being able to see the world again after she lost her vision to stroke.

What is Tunnel Vision? Causes, Symptoms and Treatments for Peripheral Vision Loss