Vision
Therapy Is Effective Treatment
Vision
therapy
-- a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain -- is a
highly effective non-surgical treatment for many common visual
problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision,
convergence insufficiency and some reading and learning
disabilities. Many patients who have been told, "it's too late,"
or "you'll have to learn to live with it" have benefited from
vision therapy.
In the case of learning disabilities, vision therapy is
specifically directed toward resolving visual problems which
interfere with reading, learning and educational instruction.
Optometrists do not claim that vision therapy is a direct
treatment for learning disabilities.
What is
involved in a Vision Therapy program?
Vision therapy is --
a progressive program of vision
"exercises" or procedures;
performed under doctor supervision;
individualized to fit the visual
needs of each patient;
generally conducted in-office, in once
or twice weekly sessions of 30 minutes to one hour;
sometimes supplemented with
procedures done at home between office visits
("homework");
(depending on
the case) prescribed to --
- help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and
abilities;
- improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency;
- change how a patient processes or interprets visual
information.
Vision
Therapy Is Not Just Eye Exercise
Unlike other forms of exercise, the goal
of Vision Therapy is NOT to strengthen eye muscles. Your eye
muscles are already incredibly strong!
Vision Therapy is not to be confused with any self-directed
program of eye exercises which is or has been marketed to the
public. Vision Therapy is supervised by optometric
vision care professionals and many types of specialized and/or
medical equipment are used in Vision Therapy programs, such as
- prescription lenses
(regulated medical devices);
- therapeutic lenses
(regulated medical devices);
- prisms
(regulated medical devices);
- optical filters;
- eye patches or occluders
- electronic targets with timing
mechanisms;
- computer software;
- vestibular
(balance) equipment
The first step in any Vision Therapy
program is a comprehensive vision examination. Following a
thorough evaluation, a qualified vision care professional can
advise the candidate as to whether Vision Therapy would be
appropriate treatment.