Vision Therapy + Rehabilitation
What is Vision Therapy + Rehabilitation?
Vision Therapy is an individualized, supervised, treatment program designed to correct visual-motor and/or perceptual-cognitive deficiencies. Vision Therapy sessions include procedures designed to enhance the brain's ability to control:
eye alignment
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.
Who Can Benefit From Vision Therapy?
Patients of all ages can benefit from vision therapy. The nature of the therapy program varies with the condition treated. For example, a three-year-old child with amblyopia, or "lazy eye", may simply be prescribed glasses that promotes and maximizes the development of binocular vision.
A child or adult with strabismus or “crossed eye” may require therapy for a year or more.
A student having trouble focusing while reading may require two to three months of vision therapy to solve the vision problem and reduce eye stratin.
Children and adults with visual challenges such as the following are often benefitted by vision therapy.
Learning-related Vision Problems
Vision Therapy can help those individuals who lack the necessary visual skills for effective reading, writing, and learning (i.e., eye movement and focusing skills, convergence, eye-hand activity, visual memory skills, etc.).Poor Binocular Coordination
Vision Therapy helps individuals develop normal coordination and teamwork of the two eyes (binocular vision). When the two eyes fail to work together as an effective team, performance in many areas can suffer (reading, sports, depth perception, etc.).Strabismus and Amblyopia
Vision Therapy programs offer much higher success rates for turned eyes and/or lazy eye when compared to eye surgery, glasses, and/or patching, without therapy. The earlier the patient receives Vision Therapy the better. We have treated toddlers to adult patients. in our Vision Therapy + Rehabilitation program.Stress-induced Visual Difficulties
21st century lifestyles demand more from our vision than ever before. Children and adults in our technological society constantly use their near vision at work and at home. C.V.S. (Computer Vision Syndrome) is one of the fastest growing health concerns in the workplace today. Environmental stresses on the visual system (including excessive computer use or close work) can induce eyestrain, headaches, and/or visual difficulties which can be effectively treated with corrective lenses and/or Vision Therapy.Visual Rehabilitation for Special Populations
Vision can be compromised as a result of neurological disorders or trauma to the nervous system (such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, whiplash, autism, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy). Vision Rehabilitation y can effectively treat the visual consequences of brain injury.Sports Vision Training
Strong visual skills are critical to sports success. Not much happens in sports until your eyes instruct your hands and body what to do! Accurate vision and athletic visual skills can be measured, developed, and enhanced through Vision Therapy. We measure and successfully improve eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, peripheral awareness, eye teaming, focusing, tracking, and visualization skills (to mention just a few).
We offer individual training for athletes as well as multi-sport team training.
Vision Therapy can be the answer to many visual problems. Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions.
If you would like to learn more please visit: covd.org
Is Vision Therapy New?
Although it is a dynamic optometric specialty that improves visual function and performance, vision therapy is actually an outgrowth of orthoptics. Orthoptics, which literally means "straightening of the eyes,” was introduced to this country by physicians in the late 1800s. As physicians became more focused on eyeglasses, medication , and surgery, the benefits of orthoptics were taught to fewer and fewer practitioners. However, optometrists in the mid 1900's took the best that orthoptics had to offer, and pioneered the development of vision therapy.
What Is Involved in a Vision Therapy Program?
Vision therapy is administered in our office under the guidance of Dr. Tricia Holliday. Brittany, our Vision Therapist works with the patients one on one, during the 50 minute sessions. Patients will often be given vision therapy exercises to do at home to enhance their progress. Sometimes a number of office visits are required, over a period ranging from several weeks to several months.
Commitment to the therapy program and maintaining a schedule of weekly visits are important in the success of the program.
Can I Just Do the Therapy at Home by Myself?
Vision therapy programs are individualized for the patient, and careful guidance and frequent monitoring are required for success. When attempted by patients without guidance, poor visual habits may actually be reinforced. In addition, specialty computer programs with liquid crystal polarizing goggles and other specialized instrumentation are used which do not lend themselves to unsupervised use at home.
Will My Insurance Cover Vision Therapy?
Some of the better health insurance policies cover the medical aspect of vision therapy. Coverage has no relationship to vision care plans which cover eye examinations, eyeglasses, or contact lenses once every year or two. Do not allow insurance companies to make arbitrary decisions that prevent you or your child from receiving necessary care.
How Long Does Vision Therapy Last?
When the program is complete, the benefits of vision therapy will last for a lifetime. Accurate focusing and the efficient use of both eyes together is a reflex which, when conditioned, should operate effortlessly. Self-monitoring activities are prescribed at the end of each therapy program.
