Why is Vision Therapy Needed?

  Vision Therapy Questions and Answers

What is vision therapy?

 

Vision therapy is an individualized treatment program prescribed to prevent the development of certain vision problems, to improve conditions like crossed-eyes (strabismus) or lazy eye (amblyopia), or to help you learn or enhance specific vision skills.  Such skills include eye movement control, eye focusing, eye coordination and teamwork between the two eyes.

  

 

How does vision therapy work?

 

Like many skills, vision skills are developed.  Since they are developed. They can generally be improved through proper therapeutic techniques.  In vision therapy, the optometrist prescribes visual tasks to be practiced under controlled conditions.  Repetition of these tasks enhances vision by coordinating and improving eye movement, improving focusing ability and by straightening the alignment of the eyes.

 

 

How successful is vision therapy?

 

Vision therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for many problems that cannot be treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses alone.  It can help people see more clearly, efficiently and comfortably.  Success, however, is not guaranteed.  Much of the improvement depends on the patient’s willingness to follow the optometrist’s instructions.  For patients who do so, significant progress toward more efficient and comfortable vision usually results.

 What are some vision therapy procedures?

 In addition to the use of lenses, prisms and filters, there are many different procedures that can be used in vision therapy.  Some, using stereo-viewers or video games, may seem like child’s play….but they’re not.  More sophisticated equipment and instruments are also used to increase the eye’s ability to see and the brain’s ability to understand the visual information.

 

  

How long does vision therapy take?

 

The length of time required for completion of a vision therapy program, including the number of visits per week, the length of each visit and the amount of out-of-the-office therapy, varies.  This is dependent upon the type of vision problem(s), how long the condition has existed, the motivation of the patient and the level of improvement desired.  A typical program may take from a few weeks to several months.

 

 

How will vision therapy affect my lifestyle?

 

Depending upon your vision condition, therapy can have a profound effect on your lifestyle.  By undergoing vision therapy, you may find yourself looking at life in a whole new way.  Your doctor of optometry can provide you with more specific information about how vision therapy can help improve your vision.

 

 

Helpful Vision Links

100s of Success Stories
Read hundreds of Vision Therapy Success Stories written by patients (children and adults), parents and teachers.

About Learning Related Vision Problems
Browse through this large collection of articles by the PTA, School Nurse News, Web MD, professors, eye doctors, and more...

ADD/ADHD?
Is it really ADD/ADHD? Or is it an undetected vision problem?

All About Crossed Eyes & Lazy Eye
An expert eye doctor explains all about strabismus (eye turns) and lazy eye. Information on eye surgery included.

Children's Visual Health
A large web site with lots of information on children's vision.

Optometrists Network
Eye care information and free referrals for patients, parents, and optometrists. No vendor advertising. No visitor registration required.

VISION3D.COM
Learn all about 3D vision! Winner: Internet Medical Site of the Week.

Vision and Brain Injuries
About treatment of the visual consequences of brain injuries (including double vision).

What is Vision Therapy?
See the Interview with an Eye Doctor