Why Do I Get Dizzy in Big Stores?

Have you ever walked into a mall, big grocery store or other large, enclosed space and felt dizzy? This reaction is more common than you might expect. You may also find that these symptoms are accompanied by a feeling of anxiety or even panic. Again, this is also very normal. What you may not realize is that you are likely to be suffering from a very real and diagnosable eye condition called Binocular Vision Dysfunction.
 

What is Binocular Vision Dysfunction?

Binocular Vision Dysfunction, or BVD for short, is a surprisingly common condition that is estimated to affect as many as 50% of the population. However, the symptoms associated with it can be mild, and even if they aren’t, they are often overlooked or attributed to other, non-eye related conditions.

Being able to see properly is a much more complex process than many people expect. Eye teaming skills are one of the core elements of being able to see clearly. This refers to the way that the eyes work together – which is controlled by extraocular muscles. These muscles are responsible for the movement of your eyes and should ensure that the eyes are moving in perfect alignment so that they can relay one, clear image to the brain.

BVD is characterized by the inability of the eyes to work together in perfect synchronicity. In this instance, the extraocular muscles must work significantly harder to try and get the eyes to work together and create a single image, putting them under unnatural stress and strain. Over time, the degree of strain that this places onto the muscles can result in a range of complex and often debilitating symptoms.
 

Symptoms of Binocular Vision Dysfunction

There is a wide range of symptoms associated with BVD. These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Abnormal fatigue

• Avoiding reading or concentrated task work

• Blurred vision

• Tilting the head to one side when concentrating on a task

• Clumsiness/lack of coordination

• Closing one eye while reading

• Difficulty sustaining focus

• Dizziness and/or light-headedness

• Eye strain

• Fatigue while reading

• Poor depth perception

• Headaches

• Nausea

• Motion sickness

• Panic Attacks While Driving

• Migraine

• Reading difficulties

• Sensitivity to light

• Difficulty judging depth and distance

• Drifting to one side while walking

• Head, neck and shoulder pain

Since many of these symptoms are also indicative of other conditions, BVD can be quite tricky to diagnose.
 

So why do I get dizzy in big stores?

The reason why many people with BVD get dizzy when they walk into a large, tall space is because of overstimulation. Such environments contain lots of bright lights, colors, mirrors and sounds such as voices, coughing, shouting and music from speakers. The multiple stimuli and detail in a large space like a mall or large store can overload the visual system, triggering an episode of dizziness which then leads to the person feeling overwhelmed.
 

Is there a treatment for BVD that can help me overcome my dizziness?

The good news is that BVD can be treated effectively, enabling patients to see a reduction in their symptoms and restore their quality of life. The most effective treatment is known as Neurolens® - a specialty type of lens that contains pre-determined amounts of microprism that works to move the eyes back into alignment. Restoring their ability to work in synchronization reduces and even eliminates the symptoms of BVD.

If you have been experiencing episodes of dizziness in large spaces, you too could be suffering from Binocular Vision Dysfunction. Call (805) 626-3400 to schedule an appointment with our team today to find out how we can help or take our self-test to find out if your symptoms are BVD related, it just takes 5 minutes!
 

Take 5 Minute Self Test