Vision therapy has attracted both strong supporters and skeptics over the years. For many parents and patients seeking alternatives to surgery or medications, it offers hope for improving vision problems that may be interfering with school performance and quality of life. Optometric Vision Therapy is a valid, effective treatment for certain visual conditions. Like with any therapy, success depends on the specific condition, the patient’s commitment to “do the work” and overall cognitive and systemic health.
What Is Vision Therapy?
Optometric Vision Therapy, also referred to as orthoptics or vision training—is a safe, non-surgical treatment option that aims to improve binocular visual skills. It involves an in-depth visual performance exam where the doctor evaluates the patient’s eye tracking, eye teaming, eye focusing, depth perception and many other binocular skills. From there, a customized plan is created for the patient which is supervised by the optometrist and trained vision therapist. Individual patient goals are outlined before the start of therapy, but the overarching goal for all patients in vision therapy is to improve the eye-brain connection, improve communication (processing) of visual information which in turn, improves skills such as reading, comprehension, depth perception and peripheral vision. Optometric Vision Therapy may include prescribing certain lenses and filters that help improve patient comfort and eye focusing. It does not rely on medications or invasive, permanent procedures like surgery. With consistent effort, many patients see significant improvements in their visual abilities and improved quality of life
How Does Vision Therapy Work?
Vision therapy employs a wide range of tools and techniques, tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Some of the methods include:
- Lenses and prisms to assist with focusing eye alignment and patient comfort
- Eye-tracking exercises to improve control over eye movements.
- Syntonic Phototherapy which uses frequencies of light to stimulate the visual pathway and to decrease post concussion visual symptoms like dizziness and double vision.
In our practice, Vision Therapy sessions are prescribed once a week for 1 hour. Similar to other therapies like physical and occupational therapies, at-home activities are also prescribed in order to reinforce new visual skills the patient is learning. Individual improvement in symptoms vary depending on the patient, severity of diagnosis and goals, but most patients start to see an improvement in as little as 4-6 weeks.
While vision therapy requires effort and consistency, its structured approach gives many patients the support they need to overcome frustrating visual challenges.
Who Can Benefit from Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy can benefit people of all ages. In our practice, we have preschoolers all the way to retired individuals who have success in vision therapy. With children, early intervention can help avoid future academic and developmental setbacks caused by untreated vision problems. Adults with vision deficits after concussion, stroke and traumatic brain injury also benefit from vision rehabilitation and often get back to activities in life that they enjoyed prior to their injury.
Visual conditions that can be treated with optometric vision therapy include (but not limited to):
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Convergence insufficiency
- Visual processing disorders
- Dizziness / Visual Motion Sensitivity
- Streff Syndrome
- Accommodative Disorders
- Double vision
- Eye Tracking delays
- Vision problems following brain injuries, such as concussion and stroke
Optometric vision therapy is a valuable treatment in correcting these issues and improving overall quality of life.
The Benefits of Vision Therapy
In all aspects of medicine, there are different treatment paths that the patient can take. Other providers who dismiss optometric vision therapy likely have a limited view on the visual system. After years of practice and extensive training in vision rehabilitation, I prefer to view the visual system not only as a structure – is the eye healthy and does the patient have 20/20 visual acuity.
We have to remember that the function of vision is much more than if you can read letters on the eye chart. Vision is a dynamic neurological process that requires precise eye movements (eye tracking and teaming), razor sharp eye focusing (in order to change focus from far to close and back and forth), depth perception and peripheral vision in addition to 16 other visual perceptual skills that allow us to process visual information. Despite the skeptics, there is a scientific basis for vision therapy. Overcoming Vision-Related Learning Problems
Approximately 80% of learning is through the visual system, so you can imagine how difficult school could be for a child with an undiagnosed vision problem. Vision Therapy helps address vision-related learning difficulties in both children and adults enhancing their ability to read, focus, and perform well academically.
Improving essential skills such as depth perception, tracking, and eye coordination, can empower children to approach life with confidence.
Recovery After Concussions
A concussion is considered a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In those patients who suffer from TBI, they can experience a wide range of visual symptoms including:
- Double Vision
- Difficulty reading or following lines on a page
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Dizziness / Motion Sensitivity
- Sensitivity to light
- Difficulty maintaining focus
Emotional dysregulation including anxiety and depressionVision Therapy can be an effective way to rehabilitate the visual system affected by a concussion or TBI. After a comprehensive binocular vision evaluation with the doctor, a treatment plan is designed. Treatment may include:
- Prism lenses, filters and occlusion
- Visual tracking tasks to regain smooth eye movements.
- Eye teaming exercises to improve binocular vision.
- Tactile coordination practices, like hand-eye tasks, to rebuild skills.
- Syntonic Phototherapy which uses frequencies of light to stimulate the visual pathway and to decrease post concussion visual symptoms like dizziness and double vision.
This form of post-concussion treatment not only restores visual comfort but also supports the brain’s overall recovery.
It’s Non-Invasive & Drug-Free
Vision Therapy provides a safe, noninvasive, nonsurgical alternative to other medical treatments, making it a safe and appealing option for children and adults alike. There’s no downtime involved, and patients can continue daily activities while undergoing therapy.
Long-Term Improvements
The goal of vision therapy is to create lasting improvements by enhancing the eye-brain connection by using the patient’s own neuroplasticity. the Once the patient shows that the new visual skills are automatic, show flexibility and stamina, then there is very little regression after in office vision therapy sessions have ended.
Is Vision Therapy Right for You or Your Child?
If you or your child is struggling with persistent vision issues like difficulty focusing, double vision, or poor reading performance, vision therapy may be worth exploring. It’s vital to consult with an experienced optometrist who can evaluate your visual needs and determine whether vision therapy is an appropriate course of action.
Vision therapy should always be performed under the guidance of a trained professional. It’s not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Done improperly, patients may have an increase in symptoms or even struggle with double vision. An in-depth evaluation prior to beginning in office vision therapy is essential for both the doctor to provide best treatment options and to set the patient up for success in the program
Strengthen Your Vision, Enhance Your Life
Early on in my training I was fortunate enough to have witnessed the life changing benefits to vision therapy. That led me on a lifelong journey to learning more about the function of our complex visual system and to becoming a Fellow of the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) in 2019. Being able to provide e a life-changing solution for many, offering hope for correcting visual problems is what brings me the greatest joy in practice.
If you would like to know if vision therapy could help you or your loved ones, book an appointment with Bella Vision today for a comprehensive evaluation. Our experienced team is here to guide you toward clearer, more comfortable vision—with support you can trust!
