Concussions result in over 4,000 hospitalizations annually in Australia, with most traumatic brain injuries affecting individuals aged 15–64 years during sports activities. These injuries can cause acute symptoms indicative of a functional disturbance, despite the absence of detectable structural brain damage. If symptoms persist for more than three months, the patient is diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, suggesting an injury to the autonomic nervous system. Vision-related disorders can manifest during both the acute and chronic phases of a concussion.

Reported visual disturbances associated with concussion, include deficits of accommodation, vergence and of eye movements. Symptoms often include diplopia, blurred vision, reading difficulties, difficulties with visual tracking and photophobia associated with headaches. Additionally, orthoptic exercises have been found to improve patient symptoms and the individual’s ability to return to school, work and social activities, however strong evidence for the effectiveness of treatment methods is limited.

The association between vision and concussion is to be expected given that more than half of the brain’s pathways are dedicated to vision and eye movement control and given the diffuse nature of the injury. However, whilst it is known that a concussion can lead to acute and chronic visual difficulties, accurate estimates of the prevalence or incidence of vision related disorders remains unknown. This study will review the literature to investigate the reported incidence and prevalence of vision related difficulties due to concussion. Findings of this review will be presented.