Congratulations To Our Recent Vision Therapy Graduates:
Brian, Sarah, Philip, and Michael
Some visual conditions cannot be treated adequately with just glasses, contact lenses and/or patching, and are best resolved through a program of Vision Therapy.
What is Vision Therapy?
As defined in a Joint Organizational Policy Statement of the American Academy of Optometry and the American Optometric Association, vision therapy is a sequence of activities individually prescribed and monitored by the doctor to develop efficient visual skills and processing. Sessions include procedures designed to enhance the brain's ability to control things such as:
- eye alignment
- eye teaming
- eye movements
- eye focus abilities
- visual processing
Visual-motor skills and endurance are developed through the use of specialized computer and optical devices, including therapeutic lenses, prisms, and filters. As a result, the patient's visual skills are reinforced and made automatic through repetition and by integration with motor and cognitive skills.
Who Benefits from Vision Therapy?
Children and adults with visual challenges, such as:
Learning-related Vision Difficulties:
Vision Therapy can help those individuals who lack the necessary visual skills for effective reading, writing, and learning (i.e., eye movement and focusing skills, convergence, eye-hand activity, visual memory skills, etc.).
To learn more about learning-related vision difficulties, visit these web pages:
- All About Learning Related Vision Problems
- Eyesight & Vision Problems: Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD)
- Eyesight & Vision Problems: Learning Disabilities (LDs)
- Eye Tracking, Eye Teaming, and Reading Problems
- What is Convergence Insufficiency Disorder?
- Vision Therapy as Treatment for Learning Disabilities
Poor Binocular Coordination:
Vision Therapy helps individuals develop normal coordination and teamwork of the two eyes (binocular vision). When the two eyes fail to work together as an effective team, performance in many areas can suffer (reading, sports, depth perception, eye contact, etc.).
To learn more about binocular vision, visit these web pages:
Strabismus (crossed eyes, eye turns) and Amblyopia (decreased vision, "Lazy Eye"):
Vision Therapy programs offer much higher cure rates for strabismus and amblyopia compared to eye surgery, glasses, and/or patching. Our office successfully treats children and adults.
To learn more about crossed eyes, eye turns, or lazy eye, visit these web pages:
- About Eye Turns: Constant (Always) or Intermittent (Sometimes, Occasionally)
- Amblyopia, Lazy Eye, and Strabismus - Not All The Same!
- Children's Vision: Amblyopia (Lazy Eye), Strabismus (Crossed Eyes, Exotropia, Hypertropia, Esotropia, etc.) Exophoria...
- What is Amblyopia or Lazy Eye?
- What is Convergence Insufficiency Disorder, Intermittent Exotropia, Exophoria?
- What is Seeing Double or Double Vision?
- Vision Therapy Eye Exercises as Treatment for Amblyopia, Strabismus, Convergence Insufficiency Disorder, etc.
Thomas's strabimsus surgery for his esotropia at age 1 did not go as planned. After surgery his right eye began to turn out. Since undergoing vision therapy, he is able to move his right eye at will and he has achieved gross depth perception.
Visual Rehabilitation for Special Needs - Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Stroke, Birth Injury, Brain Damage, Head Injury, Whiplash, Cerebral Palsy, MS:
Vision can be compromised as a result of neurological disorders or trauma to the nervous system. Vision Therapy can effectively treat the visual consequences of brain trauma (including double vision).
To learn more about visual rehabilitation with vision therapy, visit these web pages:
- Visual Rehabilitation following Brain Damage, Birth Injury, Head Injury, Stroke, Acquired Brain Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Blurred Vision, Reading Difficulties, Double Vision, Eye Pain, Headaches, Visual Field Loss.
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation - Success Stories with Vision Therapy.
Stress-induced Difficulties - Blurred Vision, Eyestrain, Headaches, Dizziness:
21st century life demands more from our vision than ever before. Many children and adults constantly use their near vision at school, work, and home. Environmental stresses on the visual system (including excessive computer use or close work) can induce blurred vision, eyestrain, headaches, etc.
To learn about vision therapy for these problems, visit these web pages:
- Blurred Vision, Blurry Eyesight - Reading and Computer Work - VT Eye Exercises
- Dizziness, Motion Sickness, Eye Strain, Stomachaches, Double Vision
- Eye Strain or Eye Fatigue with Computer Work and Reading - Eye Exercises
- Relief of Frequent or Chronic Headaches, Stress, Eyestrain, and/or Stomachaches during or after Reading, School or Office Work
Visual Rehabilitation for Special Needs - Developmental Delays, Visual Perceptual and Visual-Motor Deficits, Attention Deficit Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders:
To learn more about vision therapy as it relates to developmental delays or disorders, visit these web pages:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD): Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments
- Autism Spectrum Disorders: Eye Examinations, Eyesight, Vision Therapy
- Article: Diagnosis of Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD), Hidden Disability
Sports Vision Improvement:
Strong visual skills are critical to sports success. Not much happens in sports until your eyes instruct your hands and body as to what to do! Accurate vision and athletic visual skills can be measured, developed, and enhanced through Vision Therapy. We can measure and successfully improve eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, peripheral awareness, eye teaming, focusing, tracking, and visualization skills (to mention just a few).
Vision Therapy can be the answer to many visual problems. Do not hesitate to contact our office with any questions.