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What is Vision Therapy? |
Vision Therapy (also known as visual training) is an individualized program of activities which may involve the use of lenses, prisms, filters and various other equipment designed to provide the individual with a situation in which they may learn to improve their binocular vision and visual information processing skills.
Vision therapy might be thought of as developmental or rehabilitative therapy for the brain and the eyes (depending on the origin of the visual problem being dealt with). It is a progressive program with the activities being easiest in the beginning and then becoming progressively more challenging. |
Why is Vision Therapy recommended? |
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1. Treat existing visual problems such as eye teaming or alignment problems, amblyopia (lazy eye), eye-coordination problems, poorly sustained near focus, inefficient eye movement control, poorly developed eye-hand coordination & immature visual perceptual development. |
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2. Enhance the efficiency and comfort of visual function. |
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3. Help prevent some visual problems from developing. |
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4. Vision therapy is not used to strengthen eye muscles, but rather to improve the coordination and functioning of the visual system. |
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5. Many children who experience academic difficulties may have a visual dysfunction or inefficiency in the way their visual system is working in addition to their primary reading or learning problem. Vision therapy can assist or minimize some learning difficulties by reducing visual inefficiencies only where these are present.
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What is involved in a vision therapy program? |
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1. Vision therapy is a progressive program of activities.
2. Is performed under the supervision of your optometrist.
3. Is individualised to fit the visual needs of each patient.
4. Is conducted in-office, in once weekly of fortnightly sessions of 30 minutes to one hour.
5. Is supplemented with procedures done at home between office visits ("home reinforcement" or "homework")
6. Is prescribed to (depending on the case):
a) Help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities
b) Improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency
c) Change how a patient processes or interprets visual information.
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What about self-help eye exercise computer programs?
Vision Therapy is not to be confused with any self-directed self-help program of eye exercises which is or has been marketed to the public.
Self-directed eye exercise programs are not an adequate substitute for professional evaluation and treatment of binocular vision conditions, such as Amblyopia (Lazy Eye), Strabismus (Congenital Esotropia, Intermittent Exotropia, Hypertropia, etc.), Anisometropia or Convergence Insufficiency Disorder.
In-office Vision Therapy is supervised by optometric vision care professionals and various types of treatment devices are used (and some are regulated medical devices), such as:
1. Corrective lenses (regulated medical devices);
2. Therapeutic lenses (regulated medical devices);
3. Prism lenses (regulated medical devices);
4. Optical filters;
5. Eye patches or occluders
6. Electronic targets with timing mechanisms;
7. Specific computer software;
8. Vestibular (balance) equipment
9. Visual-motor-sensory integration training devices
Self-directed eye exercise programs are not an adequate substitute for professional evaluation and treatment of binocular vision conditions, such as Amblyopia (Lazy Eye), Strabismus (Congenital Esotropia, Intermittent Exotropia, Hypertropia, etc.), Anisometropia or Convergence Insufficiency Disorder.
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