How do eyes work together as a team?

Published on

April 28, 2022

Eye teaming, also known as binocular vision or binocularity, refers to how the eyes and the brain work together as a team. When you move something closer to your eyes, such as a book or a computer, your eyes have to converge more to get a clear picture of the object.

The metaphor of a camera to explain binocular vision

Dr. McBryar likes to think of your eyes as cameras, but they're like the old-fashioned cameras where you had to send the film off to be developed. So you have a left eye camera and a right eye camera, and each of them takes its own pictures or images. That information is now going to be transferred back to the brain and like the old fashioned camera the film or image will be developed there as well.

Using the camera metaphor, in a case where the eyes are not pointing at exactly the same place, what happens is your eyes don't work well as a team, and you will still have a right eye picture and a left eye picture, but as they return to the brain, instead of being able to perfectly overlap, there will be a separation between them. As a result, poor eye-teaming skills and the subsequent combined image formed in the brain may cause symptoms like headaches, eyestrain or eye pain when you're reading and doing up close work. Additionally, it can cause conditions like double vision, blurry vision, or even floating words on the page.

Convergence insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency is an eye condition which occurs when both eyes are supposed to come together to focus on a near target but they fail to do so. This is one of the most common conditions that impact our binocular vision.

If you are trying to read or use your computer, and you are trying to look at a screen or a page, then both eyes must be able to coordinate together so that they are pointing in the same direction at the same time. If that happens, you will have excellent binocular vision. If you or your child are experiencing vision difficulties that may be related to poor binocular vision call our office at (423) 710 3965 to schedule a functional eye exam.

Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!