How Undiagnosed Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) Can Make You Look Older Than You Really Are

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed deepening forehead wrinkles, frown lines, or crow’s feet—even though you feel like you shouldn’t be aging that fast? What if I told you that your eyes might be to blame?

Undiagnosed Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) could be the hidden reason behind those premature signs of aging. BVD causes your eye muscles to work overtime to compensate for small misalignments, leading to chronic tension in the forehead, around the eyes, and even between the brows. Over time, these muscle strains create wrinkles, fine lines, and facial asymmetry—making you look older than you really are.

How BVD Contributes to Premature Aging

1. Forehead Wrinkles & Frown Lines (The “11’s”)

When your eyes struggle to work together, your brain constantly tries to correct your vision. This leads to frequent squinting and forehead raising as your muscles strain to focus. Over time, this repetitive motion creates:

✔ Horizontal forehead lines from constantly raising your brows

✔ Deep frown lines (“11’s”) between your eyebrows due to strain and frustration

Since these muscle movements become a habit, even when your face is relaxed, the lines remain—giving you a stressed or older appearance even when you’re not feeling that way.

2. Crow’s Feet & Eye Bags

BVD can make your eyes feel tired and strained, forcing you to squint even in normal lighting conditions. This constant micro-squinting deepens crow’s feet (wrinkles at the outer corners of your eyes) and contributes to puffy or sagging eyelids over time.

Since eye fatigue is a major symptom of BVD, it’s common for patients to develop dark circles and under-eye bags, making them look exhausted or aged—even after a full night’s sleep.

3. A Tense, Asymmetrical Face

Chronic visual misalignment leads to overworked forehead, brow, and facial muscles, which can create tightness, asymmetry, and a resting "stressed" expression. People with undiagnosed BVD often look tense, frustrated, or even angry—simply because their facial muscles are constantly engaged in trying to see clearly.

Over time, the tension can contribute to:

✔ Uneven facial expressions

✔ One side of the face appearing more lifted or strained than the other

✔ A permanently tired, worn-out look

Fix the Root Cause, Not Just the Symptoms

Many people turn to Botox, skincare, or anti-aging treatments to smooth out their wrinkles—but if BVD is the underlying cause, these solutions are just temporary fixes.

The real way to reduce tension and soften wrinkles is to correct the eye misalignment that's causing the strain in the first place.

At Vivid Visions Optometry, Inc., we specialize in diagnosing and treating BVD with customized prism glasses and vision therapy. These treatments help:

✔ Relax overworked facial muscles

✔ Reduce forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet

✔ Restore a more natural, youthful expression

If you’ve been dealing with unexplained eye strain, headaches, or early signs of aging, BVD might be the missing piece of the puzzle.

Want to see if BVD is affecting your appearance?

Book an evaluation with us today at www.vividvisionsoptometry.com/appointments and start looking—and feeling—younger!