Understanding the Role of Infrared Video Goggles in Vertigo Assessment and Treatment

By Cheryl Wylie, MSc (PT)

Vertigo, a sensation of spinning or dizziness, can significantly impact your quality of life. Diagnosing and treating vertigo accurately is crucial for effective management, and infrared video goggles have become an important tool in this process. Infrared video goggles, also known as video frenzel goggles, allow us to observe your eyes closely and with vision removed, helping our evaluation to be more accurate, leading to a clearer diagnosis.

Why are you Looking at my Eyes when it’s my Ear that is the Problem?

One of the key symptoms of vertigo is nystagmus, an involuntary, rhythmic eye movement. An important role of the vestibular system is to stabilize our eyes while in motion, through the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). This reflex tells our eyes to move in the opposite direction as our head, allowing us to keep objects in focus while we walk, run, and play. Because of this connection, when we have something wrong in our inner ear, this reflex will be altered and abnormal eye movements, called nystagmus, can occur.

Nystagmus, however, can be difficult to detect with the naked eye so we use infrared video goggles to enhance the visibility of these movements. Infrared video goggles are designed to block out external light, effectively simulating a dark environment. This is important because nystagmus can become more pronounced in darkness, making it easier to observe and analyze. By using an infrared light camera, we are still able to view your eyes to gain a clear and detailed view of your eye movements. By creating this optimal viewing conditions, infrared video goggles help us capture the full extent of your eye movements, which is critical for an accurate diagnosis.

Below is an animation representation of nystagmus: 

What are the Advantages of Infrared Video Goggles?

Beyond the ability to view your eyes in a dark environment, infrared video goggles provide other value to our clinical testing:

Detailed Recording Capabilities

Infrared video goggles can record eye movements in real-time, providing us with detailed footage that can be reviewed and analyzed later. This feature is particularly useful for identifying the specific type and cause of vertigo. By having a permanent record, we can compare eye movements over time, track changes, and refine our diagnosis with greater precision.

Accurate Diagnosis

Vertigo can be caused by various conditions, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, or vestibular migraine. Each type of vertigo is associated with distinct patterns of eye movements. Infrared video goggles allow us to closely monitor the direction, frequency, and type of your nystagmus, leading to a more accurate diagnosis. This specificity is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan.

Guided Treatment Maneuvers

Certain types of vertigo, like that associated with BPPV, can be treated with specific maneuvers such as the Epley maneuver. Infrared video goggles allow us to monitor your head and eye movements during these maneuvers to ensure they are being performed correctly. This real-time guidance enhances the effectiveness of our treatment, reducing the likelihood of recurrence and speeding up recovery.

Infrared Video Goggles are just One Evaluation Tool amongst Many

Although infrared video goggles can be extremely valuable, they make up just one aspect of the vestibular assessment and do not replace the expertise of an experienced clinician. At Healing Vertigo, we use the information gained from our infrared video goggle assessments, in combination with many other areas of testing, to interpret your results and come to a diagnosis and treatment plan.

In addition to infrared video goggle testing, we will assess your balance and sense of verticality, motion sensitivity, gaze stabilization, dynamic balance, coordination, multi-tasking skills, and much more. We will also take a detailed history, as this can often be very telling as to the cause of your dizziness.

And at Healing Vertigo, we provide virtual vestibular physiotherapy services where we don’t use infrared video goggles at all! Every case is different, so reach out to speak to a vestibular physiotherapist today to learn more about vestibular testing and what might be right for you.

What Infrared Video Goggles do you Use?

We use Insight Pro+ Infrared Video Goggles by Vestibular First. These goggles are lightweight and comfortable while providing powerful evaluation capabilities. Some key features of these goggles include removable front cover (camera unit), high-def 5 Megapixel infrared cameras, multiple eye viewing options, precise fixation lights, quick release strap and a secure travel case.

If you are a practitioner, use our referral link to purchase your own goggles today, plus receiving  500 bonus points which you can redeem in the Vestibular First Store!

Summary

Infrared video goggles are a powerful tool in our assessment and treatment of vertigo. They provide enhanced visibility and detailed recording of eye movements, simulate conditions that make symptoms more apparent, and offer precise feedback and monitoring capabilities. By incorporating these goggles into our clinical practice, we can achieve more accurate diagnoses and deliver more effective treatments, ultimately improving outcomes for you.

Understanding the role of infrared video goggles highlights the advancements in medical technology that are making a tangible difference in your care. If you or someone you know is experiencing vertigo, please reach out to us at Healing Vertigo for a full evaluation. Utilizing this advanced diagnostic and treatment tool can be a crucial step towards finding your relief.