Vision Therapy

Some visual conditions cannot be treated in the conventional manner with just glasses, contact lenses and/or patching, and are best resolved through a program of Vision Therapy.

Our evaluations determine the patient's visual and motor skill level. Vision Therapy is then programmed to meet specific needs for development of proper visual, perceptual and motor abilities.

We place great value in offering both vision therapy and occupational therapy to those requiring assistance with visual and motor skills.

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision Therapy treats each patient individually.

A supervised treatment program designed to correct visual-motor and/or perceptual-cognitive deficiencies.

Vision Therapy sessions include techniques designed to enhance the patient's ability to control:

Eye alignment
Eye tracking and eye teaming
Eye focusing abilities
Eye movements
Visual processing

Visual-motor skills and endurance are developed through the use of specialized computer and optical devices, including therapeutic lenses, prisms, and filters. During the final stages of therapy, the patient's newly acquired visual skills are reinforced and made automatic through repetition and by integration with motor and cognitive skills.

Binocular vision impairments affect at least 1 out 4 students in every classroom.

Early detection and treatment is vital!

A Parent's Checklist :

Look for these signs and symptoms

Note: If you check off several items on the following checklist, consider taking your child for a thorough vision examination that includes the testing of their visual skills:

You observe the following behavior in your child:

One eye drifts or aims in a different direction than the other (look carefully -- this can be subtle). This is significant even if it only occurs when the child is tired or stressed.
Head is frequently tilted to one side or one shoulder is noticeably higher
Turns or tilts head to see
Squinting or closing of one eye
Excessive blinking or squinting
Poor visual/motor skills (often called, "hand-eye coordination")
Problems moving in space, frequently bumps into things or drops things

While reading or doing close work your child:

Holds the book or object unusually close
Closes one eye or covers eye with hand
Twists or tilts head toward book or object so as to favor one eye
Frequently loses place and fatigues easily
Uses finger to read
Rubs eyes during or after short periods of reading

Your child frequently complains of:

Only being able to read for short periods of time
Headaches or eyestrain
Nausea or dizziness
Motion sickness

DOUBLE VISION ? Say no more.

If your child reports seeing double, please take your child for a binocular vision evaluation immediately.

Catch Visual Problems Early

Early detection of visual problems greatly increases the chances of successful rehabilitation. Children should be examined by an eye doctor during infancy and preschool years to detect potential problems with binocular vision. This is particularly important if any member of the family has had ambylopia or strabismus. Testing of binocular teaming skills should be a part of every child's comprehensive eye examination.

A second opinion is warranted when your eye doctor:

Diagnoses ambylopia or strabismus, but offers only surgery and/or patching -- no mention is made of eye exercises or other supporting vision therapies.
Recommends surgery only for cosmetic purposes (to make the eye appear straight to others) and does not believe that your child can develop binocular vision.
Tells you that it is too late for either surgery and/or patching and that your child can not develop binocular vision.

In the above cases, parents are advised to consult an eye doctor who offers comprehensive functional pediatric eye examinations, supervised Vision Therapy to children, particularly a behavioral optometrist.