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Vision Therapy
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy is designed to teach the child how the brain controls the eyes, to improve their visual skills, and how to apply these new skills to improve reading, learning, concentration, and attention. Vision therapy is a fully customized and personalized treatment program designed to improve and strengthen visual skills, and re-train the child’s visual system to interpret visual input with increased accuracy and ease.
Vision therapy is more than just simple eye exercises — it improves brain-eye communication and the effective operating of the child’s visual system.
How do I know if I need vision therapy?
In some cases, children who are having difficulty at school will be evaluated by a nurse or occupational therapist and found to have difficulty with eye tracking or other functions. In these cases, the first step is to complete a comprehensive eye examination. If a condition is detected, then a referral for a vision therapy evaluation might be made by the eye doctor.
A comprehensive eye exam and binocular vision evaluation can identify conditions that would benefit from treatment with vision therapy. Here are some common symptoms of individuals who may benefit from vision therapy.
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Headache
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Blurry distance vision
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Eye fatigue with close work
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Losing place while reading
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Fluctuating vision
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Letters seem to jump around
Vision Therapy FAQs
There is more to vision therapy than simply strengthening the eyes. It also enhances the neurological connections between the eyes and the brain. Eyes are the windows of the brain. It directly influences sight based on how it interprets images received. A healthy connection between the eyes and the brain is essential for good eyesight. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the nature of vision therapy:
Q. How does vision therapy work?
It uses progressive vision exercises performed under the supervision of your eye care provider. Each set of exercises is tailored to meet the individual visual needs of a patient. These exercises are done 1-2 times per week in sessions lasting 30 minutes to a full hour. The exercises are designed to continue until visual processing problems show improvement.
Q. What type of eye conditions can be treated?
Many people including both children and adults can be helped with vision therapy. Common conditions that may be treated with vision therapy include:
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Strabismus (Eye Turn)
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Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
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Convergence Insufficiency (Eye Teaming)
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Saccadic Dysfunction (Eye Tracking)
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Traumatic Brain Injury (Concussion)
Q. What is the purpose of the vision exercises?
Vision exercises are designed to help patients improve basic visual skills that connect the eyes with the brain. These exercises can improve visual efficiency by changing how a patient interprets images. This helps them see and understand images correctly.
Q. Is there an age limit to vision therapy?
No, vision therapy is effective for both children and adults. Neuro-plasticity enables the brain to remain dynamic and flexible throughout your life. Visual function training used in vision therapy can be compared to riding a bike or playing an instrument, the more you practice or train, the stronger and more skillful you will become.
Q. How quickly will you notice results?
Improved visual skills are often noticed after a few weeks. However, each patient is different, and depending on their specific therapy regimen, it can take as little as a few weeks to up to six months to see the optimum results. Over the course of the program, your doctor will continue to assess your child’s improvements in order to determine how many visits are needed to achieve the best results.
Q. Can vision therapy influence academic performance?
Yes. Children with reduced visual skills will find it difficult to keep up with grade-level reading or comprehension — as both of these tasks require functional vision skills that may be difficult for the child. The child may also rush through an assignment to avoid blurry or double vision, headaches, and eye fatigue— resulting in careless mistakes which can impact their overall academic performance. Additionally, a child with reduced visual skills may avoid reading, or may daydream during class, as the extra effort needed to focus and process visual information can cause headaches or fatigue.
Q. Does insurance cover Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy can be billed to your medical insurance, but not vision insurance. Our staff can help you find out if your insurance will pay for vision therapy.