Vision Therapy
Developmental Vision includes vision therapy and is an area of expertise within optometry. The optometrist tests specific visual skills that are often not covered in a routine eye exam. Vision therapy is similar to physical therapy but for the brain and eyes. It is an effective non-surgical way to help improve conditions such as lazy eye, double vision, focusing problems, eye tracking difficulties as well as some reading and learning disabilities. Vision therapy can require home or in-office therapy. Most frequently, a combination of both is needed.
Studies show that Vision Therapy is an effective treatment for many different types of eye problems which generally cannot be treated with eyeglasses alone. Each program must be specifically prescribed depending upon the type and severity of the eye problem. The goal of any vision therapy program is to see comfortably, efficiently and clearly without any eye strain or fatigue.
Symptoms that may indicate a need for Vision Therapy
The following is a short list of possible problems that may indicate a possible eye movement problem, focusing problem, or a binocular problem, (i.e. the inability to use both eyes comfortably).
- Skipping words or sentences
- Reversing words or letters
- Rereading lines or phrases
- Reading extremely slowly
- Using a finger or a pointer to guide your eyes
- Unusual fatigue, restlessness after maintaining visual attention
- Complaints of blur while reading or writing
- Holding reading material closer than normal
- Covering or closing one eye
- Avoidance of close work
- Short attention span or day dreaming
- An eye that turns in, up, down or out
- Frequent headaches
- Double vision
- Errors and difficulty copying from chalkboard
- Slowness in all schoolwork
