Gaze stabilization trains the reflex that keeps your vision steady when your head moves (the vestibulo-ocular reflex, or VOR). When this reflex is weak, the world can seem to bounce or blur as you move. The training is a few minutes a day of keeping your eyes on a target while your head turns.
How it works in VertigoMe
- On Home, tap Exercises, then Gaze stabilization.
- Read Before you start. You sit, holding the phone at arm's length at eye height, or propped up.
- Choose Voice on or Voice off, and Camera coach on or Camera coach off.
- Tap Start.
A letter V appears on the screen. Keep your eyes locked on it while you turn your head in time with the ticks. The phone vibrates and arrows flash with each beat. The letter must stay sharp. If it blurs, slow your turns down.
Each session has blocks of about 45 seconds: side to side, then faster, then up and down. At higher levels a MOVING TARGET block is added, where the letter jumps the opposite way to your head turn.
The camera coach
If you allow the front camera, VertigoMe watches your head turns and coaches you, for example telling you to turn a little further or to follow the ticks. It only analyses your head position while you train. Nothing is recorded. Without the camera, the trainer runs with ticks and voice alone.
Levels
Your level goes up as your sessions add up:
- Level 1, Getting started: seated, at the base pace
- Level 2, Faster pace: shorter beats
- Level 3, Moving target: the moving-target block is added
- Level 4, Standing: the same drills done standing, with a wall in reach
Moving up depends on how many sessions you have done in the last week or two and, when the camera coach was on, how full your head turns were. The Exercises screen and the trainer show your level and how many sessions you have done this week.
After a session
The Done screen shows how many turns you completed in each block. Tap how helpful it was under HOW HELPFUL WAS THIS?. The session is saved in your log as "Gaze stabilization".
Mild dizziness afterwards is normal. A few minutes every day works better than one long session a week. Do it when you are not in the middle of a spin.
This is an educational guide and does not replace medical advice. Do the exercises your ENT, neurologist or vestibular physiotherapist recommended.
