According to the optometrists network, vision therapy is an "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". Dr. Guhl, PLC insists vision is important "because it directs action and helps us derive meaning from our surroundings". He also says that vision therapy is appropriate for almost all of the population in some form or fashion.
The need for vision therapy
Not only is vision important to those with vision or medical issues, it is very important to the average, everyday person. Students are reading and studying and adults are working at computers for prolonged time periods. This can strain our eyes and cause problems. According to Dr. Guhl, "even if you have '20/20 eyesight' you may have difficulty working at close tasks. The term '20/20' means that you can see well at distances of 20 feet of more, it does not usually refer to how well you see at 12-16 inches, the distance at which you do most of your close work".
According to vision and learning, there are more than 20 different visual skills that an eye chart does not detect. The optometrists network says, "vision goes beyond eyesight and can best be defined as the understanding of what is seen. Vision involves the ability to take incoming visual information, process that information and obtain meaning from it".
Who should be evaluated for vision therapy?
According to Dr. Guhl, almost anyone can benefit from vision therapy.
- children of all ages
- children having trouble with reading or learning
- children who seem uncoordinated
- children with behavior problems
- children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD
- any athlete that wants to improve performance
- anyone who works at a computer
- anyone with a visually demanding job
- anyone who suffers from burning, itchy eyes, eye strain or visual fatigue (with no medical eye problem)
- stroke patients
- anyone who suffers from chronic fatigue
What does vision therapy treat?
According to vision and learning, "Vision therapy is commonly used for (but not limited to) the following:
- accommodative dysfunctions
- ocular motor dysfunctions
- visual motor disorders
- visual perceptual disorders
- learning related visual problems
- traumatic brain injury
- sports vision
- strabismus
- amblyopia
- myopia control"
What does vision therapy involve?
- always performed under doctor supervision
- series of progressive exercises
- individualized program
- one to two times per week
- 30 minutes to one hour sessions
- in office sessions
- homework
Treatment devices used
- corrective lenses
- therapeutic lenses
- prism lenses
- optical filters
- eye patches
- occluders
- electronic targets with timing mechanisms
- computer software
- vestibular equipment
- visual-motor-sensory integration training devices
Advice
Not all physicians perform vision therapy, nor do all physicians recommend or write referrals for vision therapy. Therefore, if you are interested you should use the referral directory to seek out a physician in your area who performs these services.
- Moscow2c
- Metropol Moscow
- Hotel Sputnik Moscow
- Moscow Chamber Orchestra
Buy moscow chamber orchestra vinyl records and CDs that are out-of-print and hard to find.
- Moscow Underground Denver Colorado