This study surveyed people with MdDS and individuals from the general population about visual health and found that the MdDS group reported a higher frequency of visual dysfunction symptoms. Compared with motion-triggered patients, non-motion patients reported unique visual symptoms.

Yes, Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) significantly impacts the visual system, though it is primarily a neurological disorder. Those with MdDS—who feel a persistent sensation of rocking or swaying—often suffer from heightened visual sensitivity. This means that moving environments, such as walking through a crowded grocery store, scrolling on a computer screen, or seeing flickering fluorescent lights, can trigger intense dizziness and "brain fog." Many patients also experience fuzzy vision or difficulty focusing, which is often linked to a maladapted Vestibular Ocular Reflex (VOR). Recent studies in 2026 suggest a high comorbidity with Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD), where the eyes are slightly misaligned. This forces the brain to work overtime to correct the image, leading to eye strain and physical exhaustion. While MdDS doesn't "damage" the eyes' structure, it fundamentally alters how the brain processes visual input.