Visually induced dizziness is found in vestibular neuritis (Arshad et al., 2023; Best et al., 2009; Godemann et al., 2005). The aetiology of vestibular neuritis has not been completely established; however, it has been thought to result from inflammation of the vestibular nerve, classified as an acute peripheral vestibulopathy (Walker, 2009) and is the third most common peripheral vestibular disorder (Bae et
al., 2022). The incidence of vestibular neuritis is around 3.5 to 15.5 per 100’000 people (Strupp & Magnusson, 2015; Wiener-Vacher et al., 2018), and it is more common in females ( 2:1) (Hülse et al., 2019). After an acute vestibular neuritis episode, around 50% of people will report long term vestibular symptoms (Cousins et al., 2014) and it is one of the main precipitating condition associated with PPPD.
Visually induced dizziness is common during an episode of vestibular neuritis; however, the main concern is the potential for the development of chronic functional dizziness after the acute neuritis has resolved. People with increased visual dependence during their vestibular neuritis – a reliance on vision for postural stability (Maire et al., 2017) – are more likely to develop PPPD-like chronic dizziness (Trinidade, Cabreira, Goebel, et al., 2023).

Additional Resources

Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis – Vestibular Disorders Association

Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: Symptoms and Treatment

What is Labyrinthitis? | Ménière’s Society

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/labyrinthitis

References

Arshad, Q., Cousins, S., Golding, J., & Bronstein, A. (2023). Factors influencing clinical outcome in vestibular neuritis–A focussed review and reanalysis of prospective data. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 120579.

Bae, C. H., Na, H. G., & Choi, Y. S. (2022). Current diagnosis and treatment of vestibular neuritis: a narrative review. Journal of Yeungnam medical science, 39(2), 81-88.

Best, C., Eckhardt-Henn, A., Tschan, R., & Dieterich, M. (2009). Psychiatric morbidity and comorbidity in different vestibular vertigo syndromes: Results of a prospective longitudinal study over one year. Journal of Neurology 256(1) (pp 58-65), 2009 Date of Publication: January 2009, 256(1), 58-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-0038-8

Cousins, S., Cutfield, N. J., Kaski, D., Palla, A., Seemungal, B. M., Golding, J. F., Staab, J. P., & Bronstein, A. M. (2014). Visual dependency and dizziness after vestibular neuritis. PloS one, 9(9), e105426.

Godemann, F., Siefert, K., Hantschke-Bruggemann, M., Neu, P., Seidl, R., & Strohle, A. (2005). What accounts for vertigo one year after neuritis vestibularis–anxiety or a dysfunctional vestibular organ? [Empirical Study; Quantitative Study]. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 39(5), 529-534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2004.12.006

Hülse, R., Biesdorf, A., Hörmann, K., Stuck, B., Erhart, M., Hülse, M., & Wenzel, A. (2019). Peripheral vestibular disorders: an epidemiologic survey in 70 million individuals. Otology & Neurotology, 40(1), 88-95.

Maire, R., Mallinson, A., Ceyte, H., Caudron, S., Van Nechel, C., Bisdorff, A., Magnusson, M., Petersen, H., Kingma, H., & Perrin, P. (2017). Discussion about Visual Dependence in Balance Control: European Society for Clinical Evaluation of Balance Disorders [2018/01/24 06:00]. The Journal of International Advanced Otology 13(3):404-406, 2017 Dec, 13(3), 404-406. https://doi.org/10.5152/iao.2017.4344

Strupp, M., & Magnusson, M. (2015). Acute unilateral vestibulopathy. Neurologic clinics, 33(3), 669-685.

Trinidade, A., Cabreira, V., Goebel, J. A., Staab, J. P., Kaski, D., & Stone, J. (2023). Predictors of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) and similar forms of chronic dizziness precipitated by peripheral vestibular disorders: a systematic review. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 94(11), 904-915.

Walker, M. F. (2009). Treatment of vestibular neuritis. Current Treatment Options in Neurology, 11(1), 41-45.

Wiener-Vacher, S. R., Quarez, J., & Le Priol, A. (2018). Epidemiology of vestibular impairments in a pediatric population. Seminars in hearing,