INFRARED GOGGLES

The Power of Infrared Goggles in Diagnosing Your Dizziness

When you’re dizzy, the world is confusing. But your diagnosis shouldn’t be. Traditional bedside exams for vertigo rely on what the human eye can see. The problem? Your brain is too smart. In a lit room, your brain uses visual fixation (focusing on a target) to actively suppress the very clues we need to see. At our clinic, we don’t guess. We use diagnostic infrared video goggles to see what’s really happening. This technology is the gold standard for accurately diagnosing the root cause of vertigo and dizziness.

The Infrared Goggle Advantage

Infrared goggles are a simple, non-invasive tool that revolutionizes the assessment.

    • How They Work: You wear a lightweight set of goggles that put you in the dark. Inside, a high-resolution infrared camera films your eyes, streaming the image to a screen for your therapist to analyze.
    • Why It’s Critical: In the pitch-black environment, your brain can no longer “cheat” or suppress your reflexes. For the first time, we can clearly see the raw, unfiltered activity of your vestibular system.

Your eyes are a direct window to your inner ear. The specific way they move tells us what is wrong.

Benefits of Using Infrared Goggles

Using this technology allows us to move from an “educated guess” to a “precise diagnosis”. We can see the specific direction, speed, and type of your nystagmus.

This allows us to differentiate, with certainty, between:

  • BPPV: And not just if you have it, but which of the three inner ear canals is affected.
  • Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis: An inner ear infection.
  • Meniere’s Disease: During or after an attack.
  • Cervicogenic Dizziness: Dizziness from your neck.
  • Central Dizziness: A more serious issue originating from the brain (e.g., stroke, vestibular migraine).

When we know exactly which canal is affected by BPPV, we can perform the correct repositioning maneuver (like the Epley or Semont) on the first try. No more “trial and error.” This means you feel better, faster.

We can record the video of your eye movements. This allows us to establish an objective baseline, track your progress over time, and confirm when the condition is fully resolved. We can show you the proof that the treatment has worked.

The most important part of our job is to rule out serious conditions. Infrared goggles are far more sensitive at detecting central nystagmus, a key red flag for neurological issues. This allows for a more confident diagnosis and a prompt referral if a more serious condition is suspected.

What This Means For You

  • No More Guesswork: Get a definitive answer for your symptoms.
  • Faster Relief: Receive the right treatment from the very first visit.
  • Confidence in Your Care: Feel secure knowing your assessment is backed by the most advanced diagnostic technology available.

This commitment to diagnostic excellence is at the core of our practice.

Book an appointment for your infrared Goggle Assessment

Why Choose McKelvie Physiotherapy?

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Cathy K profile picture
Cathy K
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My husband has a history of vertigo and recently had some terrible episodes. After a thorough assessment, he immediately felt supported with evidence based exercises and strategies that really helped. The knowledge the physiotherapist has is exemplary. We were impressed with the support and emails with step by step exercises. Direct billing is also helpful. Highly recommend.
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Nina Kim profile picture
Nina Kim
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I had been misdiagnosed by 3 doctors and at the point of a complete breakdown. Once I met Zoe, she was not only extremely knowledgeable but persistent with her approach. I now have my life back. Don't waste your time seeing doctors...go to an expert. You won't regret it!!
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Dana Duran profile picture
Dana Duran
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I cannot express how thankful I am for finding Zoe! After being diagnosed with BPPV following a hospital visit for severe vertigo, I was honestly overwhelmed and scared. Zoe took the time to explain everything that was happening with my inner ear in a way that actually made sense and made me feel so much better about it. She was patient, thorough, and tried multiple techniques to help get my crystals back where they needed to be. After just 2 visits, I felt such a huge improvement and finally started feeling like myself again. If you’re debating whether physiotherapy is worth trying, especially for vertigo, I absolutely recommend giving it a shot! Thank you again, Zoe! You seriously gave me my normal life back! Also, shoutout to Alison at the front desk! She’s so sweet, funny, and welcoming every time you walk in!
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Candys Ballanger-Michaud profile picture
Candys Ballanger-Michaud
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It was my first time seeing Zoe, although my daughter has seen her in the past and she worked miracles with her addressing her vertigo, this is why I went to see her post my brain surgery. She was very thorough, professional and empathetic to what I was going through. Zoe took the time to explain what BPPV is and how she was going to test if I had it or whether it was brain related. Needless to say, it was the crystals in my right ear which she was able to fix with our initial session. Thank you so much Zoe. She also sent me a link to a YouTube video should it reoccur.
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Roly Fernandes profile picture
Roly Fernandes
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I had issues with a rare case of Vertigo. Zoe took on the challenge and worked diligently with my issues. She is very educated in this field and did wonders for my condition. Zoe conducts herself in a welcoming and professional manner. I highly recommend anyone dealing with Vertigo issues to see Zoe Brown.
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Cliff Norton profile picture
Cliff Norton
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I saw Zoe for my back pain and she was great. From walking in, to walking out, great service and my back feels fantastic.
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Fayaz Yusuf Khan profile picture
Fayaz Yusuf Khan
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I had undergone physio for my back and neck several times in the last 6 years with varying results. I moved to Pickering a year ago and Zoe was the second therapist I tried out. She has been nothing short of exceptional. The pain and stiffness has reduced for me significantly so much that I'm starting to feel hopeful again about my body and health, which no other doctor or practitioner has done for me in several years. She explains what is causing the problems in my body and explains what we are trying to do to fix it quite week. The streching exercises she prescribes are really effective that it no longer feels like I'm just going through the motions without any results. And when something doesn't seem to work, she's quick to present alternatives. Zoe also has a warm and welcoming personality. I always look forward to our sessions. With that said, I can finally start thinking about ending my long physio journey only thanks to Zoe.
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amangll profile picture
amangll
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The team at McKelvie is a delight to work with. Very professional and always ready to greet you with a smile. Their technical expertise, genuine interest in caring for their patients and friendly demeanour has made them the best choice for my whole family.
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