Social Media Isn't an Eye Exam
TikTok and Instagram are full of videos about Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) and Oculomotor Dysfunction (OMD). Some of them are helpful. Many oversimplify.
The problem is that short clips can make almost anyone feel like they have a condition -- when in reality, only a comprehensive eye exam can confirm what is going on.
AI Chatbots Are Not an Eye Exam Either
More recently, patients have been arriving at appointments saying ChatGPT or another AI chatbot told them they have BVD.
It is understandable. You have symptoms -- headaches, eye strain, trouble reading -- so you type them into a chatbot and it gives you an answer. But that answer is based on pattern matching, not clinical testing.
BVD diagnosis requires:
- Measurement of eye alignment (cover test, phorias, tropias)
- Assessment of vergence ranges (how well your eyes converge and diverge)
- Fixation disparity testing
- Evaluation of accommodative function
OMD diagnosis requires:
- Assessment of pursuits (smooth tracking of a moving object)
- Saccade testing (switching accurately between targets)
- Fixation stability evaluation
None of these can be done through a screen. A symptom list -- no matter how detailed -- is not a diagnosis.
This is not about dismissing your concerns. Looking up symptoms is a reasonable thing to do. But clinical confirmation matters because the same symptoms can point to very different causes -- and different causes need different treatment.
What Is Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD)?
Binocular vision is how your eyes work together as a team.
Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is when the two eyes do not align or coordinate properly.
Common symptoms include:
- Double vision
- Eye strain or fatigue
- Headaches
- Difficulty focusing
- Trouble with depth perception
Binocular vision is tested and screened for at every routine comprehensive eye exam. If abnormalities are detected, your optometrist can take the next steps -- whether that is updating your glasses prescription, prescribing prism lenses, or referring for vision therapy.
What Is Oculomotor Dysfunction (OMD)?
Oculomotor skills are the fine motor movements of the eyes -- fixating, smoothly tracking, and switching between objects. This includes fixations (can you fixate on an object accurately), pursuits (can you smoothly follow and track a moving object), and saccades (can you effectively switch back and forth between two different objects).
Oculomotor Dysfunction (OMD) is when the eyes work together, but do not move smoothly or function accurately.
Common symptoms include:
- Headaches or eyestrain
- Losing your place while reading
- Needing a finger to track text
- Skipping words or lines
- Balance or coordination issues
Because OMD affects focus and reading, it can sometimes be mistaken for ADHD in children.
We test pursuits, fixations, and saccades during a comprehensive eye exam when indicated. Abnormalities may lead to a referral for vision therapy.
Why ChatGPT Gets BVD Wrong
AI chatbots are designed to find the best match between your symptoms and known conditions. BVD symptoms -- headaches, eye strain, dizziness, difficulty reading -- are extremely common and overlap with many other conditions:
- Uncorrected refractive error (you simply need glasses or an updated prescription)
- Dry eye disease (common cause of eye strain and headaches)
- Convergence insufficiency (a specific binocular vision problem, but different from general BVD)
- Screen fatigue (extended near work without breaks)
- Accommodative dysfunction (focusing system problems)
A chatbot cannot distinguish between these. It sees the overlap and picks the condition that matches the most symptoms -- which often turns out to be BVD, because BVD has a broad symptom profile.
That does not mean you definitely do not have BVD. It means you need a proper exam to find out.
The Bottom Line
Headaches, eyestrain, or trouble focusing can be frustrating -- but the good news is, you do not have to figure it out alone.
We check for BVD and OMD as part of every comprehensive exam. Whether the concern started with a TikTok video, a ChatGPT conversation, or just persistent symptoms, the next step is the same: a proper assessment.
Related
- Book a comprehensive eye exam -- BVD and OMD are screened during every exam
- Why do eye doctors wear glasses? -- another common question we hear
- LASIK co-management -- refractive surgery assessment and follow-up
Concerned about BVD or OMD?
We screen for binocular vision and oculomotor dysfunction as part of every comprehensive eye exam.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text us at 416-703-2797.
Last reviewed: September 10, 2025