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Up to 25% of all school age children have vision problems significant enough to impair academic performance.
Just like a computer has hardware (CPU, memory, ram) and software (windows, chrome), so too our vision relies on our eyes as the hardware collecting visual information and our brain as the software to decode the visual signals. A comprehensive eye exam focuses on the health of the eye, while a developmental eye exam focuses on both the eye and the brain's role in visual function. Â
Take our Vision Quiz to learn whether you should explore Vision Therapy
Neuroplasticity means that the brain has the incredible ability to develop, adapt and learn new things over time. Much like when you teach a child to ride a bike, our neuro-visual system can be trained and kept for life.Â
Vision therapy uses visual activities and exercises that work on training the entire visual system to improve its function, much like physical therapy does with the body to fix a physical issue.Â
This treatment is non-invasive and it does not involve medications. It consists of supervised, in-office treatment as well as at-home reinforcement exercises, under the guidance of a developmental optometrist and a vision therapist.Â
While corrective lenses can effectively treat many visual issues, there are conditions that glasses alone will not fix. Many of these potential issues can be ones that if left untreated, can cause a child to have a much more difficult time in school, with sports performance and various other activities that require visual skills. One example is convergence insufficiency which occurs when the eyes are not working in sync together to focus on an object up close, such as when one is trying to read. This is a common condition which is prevalent in approximately 13% of school aged children. Vision therapy is the most effective method of removing this obstacle and treating convergence insufficiency.
Vision therapy has been used to treat many eye conditions including those that relate to:
Improving quality of vision is a leap forward in improvement of quality of life.
It is essential to understand that good vision extends far beyond scoring 20/20 when reading an eye chart. Daily life requires so many more visual skills, most of which we don’t necessarily pay attention to but without these abilities, performing day to day tasks becomes very challenging. For example, the ability for the eyes to be able to focus properly at different distances and to quickly adjust from one distance to another is essential. This becomes crucial in a classroom when a student at their desk is required to read what is written on the board at a distance and then to take notes in his or her notebook which is at a close distance on the desk. If a student does not have the proper flexibility of the visual system to adjust at various distances, the student can struggle with note taking and fall behind, causing so much frustration and low self esteem. This same ability is also important for driving as we are required to look at the road signs at a distance and then to glance at the GPS on the dashboard which is at a much closer distance.Â
The examples are endless and these visual skills could be hard to identify, but a developmental optometrist is trained to assess a person’s visual system in order to diagnose these possible visual challenges and to help treat them.
There are some key symptoms to look out for in order to know if vision therapy is relevant to you. If you experience any of these symptoms or have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions, it is recommended to schedule an appointment for an evaluation with a developmental or behavioral optometrist:
Symptoms
Conditions
The developmental optometrist will do a special eye exam that evaluates all of the visual abilities and you will receive their professional opinion regarding if you can benefit from vision therapy and in what way. If you decide to proceed, a personal treatment plan will be created to suit your needs. Vision therapy can be helpful at various stages of life, including after childhood so please don’t hesitate to consult with a developmental optometrist, regardless of the age of the patient.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Seems much less frustrated with life
Reads non-stop and fast
Spelling abilities have been hugely improved
Seems much more confident
Thank You!!!
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!!!
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