Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is a treatment approach which involves activities that are practiced by the patient both in office and at home. This treatment is designed to help the child reach his/her normal level of development in the visual processing skills that are found to be deficient. The success of vision therapy has been documented in scientific literature.

At Prosper Family Eyecare we offer in-office therapy where there is a 1:1 ratio with the child and the vision therapist. The duration of treatment is dependent on the nature and severity of the diagnosis.

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision Therapy Is Effective Treatment

Vision therapy — a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain — is a highly effective non-surgical treatment for many common visual problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, convergence insufficiency and some reading and learning disabilities. Many patients who have been told, “it’s too late,” or “you’ll have to learn to live with it” have benefited from vision therapy.

In the case of learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder, vision therapy is specifically directed toward resolving visual problems which interfere with reading, learning and educational instruction. Optometrists do not claim that vision therapy is a direct treatment for learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder.

What is involved in a Vision Therapy program?

Vision therapy is —

  • a progressive program of vision “exercises” or procedures;
  • performed under doctor supervision;
  • individualized to fit the visual needs of each patient;
  • generally conducted in-office, in weekly sessions of 50 minutes;
  • supplemented with procedures done at home between office visits (“home reinforcement” or “homework”);
  • depending on the case, the procedures are prescribed to:
    • help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities;
    • improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency;
    • change how a patient processes or interprets visual information.

Vision Therapy Is Not Just Eye Exercises

Unlike other forms of exercise, the goal of Vision Therapy is not to strengthen eye muscles. Your eye muscles are already incredibly strong. 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.

In-office Vision Therapy is supervised by optometric vision care professionals and many types of specialized and/or medical equipment can be used in Optometric Vision Therapy programs, such as:

  • corrective lenses (regulated medical devices);
  • therapeutic lenses (regulated medical devices);
  • prism lenses (regulated medical devices);
  • optical filters;
  • occluders
  • electronic targets with timing mechanisms;
  • computer software;
  • balance boards (vestibular device)
  • visual-motor-sensory integration training devices

The first step in any Vision Therapy program is a visual information processing evaluation. Following a thorough evaluation, Dr. Stacie or Dr. Kelvin can advise the candidate as to whether Vision Therapy would be appropriate treatment.