If your child complains of feeling dizzy in the car, struggles with balance, or avoids reading while riding, it might be more than a passing issue. Motion sickness and visual dizziness are real—and often linked to how the eyes and brain work together.
At Navigation Eye Care in Chesapeake, we specialize in vision therapy for motion sickness, helping kids and teens regain comfort, coordination, and confidence through natural, personalized treatment.
Visual-Vestibular Integration: What’s Going On?
Our brains rely on input from the visual system (eyes), the vestibular system (inner ear and balance), and proprioception (body awareness) to understand where we are in space. When these systems don’t sync properly, the result can feel disorienting—even nauseating.
Common signs that this balance is off include:
- Dizziness when riding in a car or boat
- Motion sensitivity during movies or screen time
- Trouble reading while moving
- Feeling off-balance or unsteady
- Complaints of headaches or eye strain
Vision therapy for motion sickness works by improving how the eyes track, focus, and work as a team—retraining the brain to process movement and visual input more effectively.
Common Patient Symptoms: What to Watch For
You might think motion sickness is just something kids grow out of, but for many, it’s tied to deeper visual challenges that need attention. Some kids silently endure these symptoms for years, thinking it’s just “normal” to feel dizzy or uncomfortable during everyday activities.
Look for these signs:
- Resistance to car rides, elevators, or theme park rides
- Anxiety about reading in moving vehicles
- Head tilting, eye rubbing, or squinting
- Sensitivity to busy environments like grocery stores or hallways
- Skipping words or lines while reading
These can point to a visual processing issue that can be addressed with the right therapy—especially when caught early.
What Treatment Looks Like
At Navigation Eye Care, we begin with a comprehensive evaluation to assess visual efficiency and how the visual and vestibular systems are functioning together. If therapy is recommended, we’ll create a personalized plan that may include:
- Eye-tracking and focusing exercises
- Balance activities that challenge and strengthen coordination
- Visual memory and processing tasks
- At-home strategies to reinforce in-office progress
Most patients begin to notice improvements in the first few weeks. A typical course of vision therapy for motion sickness lasts 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity and the patient’s consistency with exercises.
And yes—we make it fun. Especially for kids. Games, activities, and age-appropriate rewards keep things positive and engaging.
Early Action Makes a Big Difference
We’ve seen time and again how early intervention can prevent long-term struggles with balance, school performance, and even anxiety. Helping a child feel grounded and confident in their body is one of the greatest gifts you can give—and vision therapy offers a natural, drug-free way to do just that.
If your child has experienced dizziness, nausea in the car, or trouble with movement-heavy environments, vision therapy for motion sickness may be the missing piece.
Schedule a Vision Therapy Evaluation Today
At Navigation Eye Care, we go beyond the eye chart to find real answers. Book an evaluation to learn how vision therapy for motion sickness can help your child feel better, move easier, and enjoy life more comfortably.
Call us today or schedule online. We’ll help your family move forward with clarity and confidence—no more spinning, swaying, or second-guessing.