 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Vision is learned and developed throughout life. It is much more than eyesight (the ability to read an eye chart clearly). Vision is the ability to make meaningful interpretation of what is seen. Movement, balance, reading, and almost all forms of learning are processed through the visual pathways. It is estimated by researchers in neurobiology that at least 80% of what we learn comes to us through vision. Because efficient visual processes are learned and developed, the events of gestation, early infancy, and childhood are the best times for a person to experience all the activities that will best promote this development. If there are delays in visual development, the result is not a defective person! The result is simply delayed visual development, leading to poor visual coordination and perhaps perceptual problems. Viewing these visual difficulties from this perspective encourages us to thoroughly evaluate visual performance in all its aspects. We can then design a program for remediation of the underdeveloped performance areas, using lenses and visual training. Most visual dysfunctions are remediable. Another possible cause of visual difficulties is trauma to the visual parts of the brain from automobile accidents, poisoning, a blow to the head, stroke, and neurological diseases and disorders, such as multiple sclerosis. When we are remedying these visual disorders we call the training rehabilitation, because we are repairing processes that once worked. Current research tells us that there is lifelong plasticity to the human brain, contrary to long held theories. Many of the behaviors currently diagnosed as dyslexia, ADD, or ADHD are, in reality, symptoms of dysfunction in visual processing that can be remedied through vision therapy. The behaviors associated with these “diagnoses” are normal early behaviors of exploration through touch and language, being used by children because of underdeveloped visual peripheral processing. These children are operating with a sort of tunnel vision. Vision therapy is a remedial process. It helps our patients become aware of their visual processing. This awareness and feedback enables patients to intentionally alter their visual processing, leading to increased visual efficiency and ultimately to effortless, automated optimum visual performance. Our role is to plan an appropriate, individualized program for each patient, and to provide the feedback. We use lenses, prisms, instruments, and biofeedback to accomplish this. The results achieved from vision therapy should be permanent! The new brain pathways developed in vision therapy will last for life. While a vision therapy program is tailored to the needs of the individual, the goals of a vision therapy program generally include: - sustained visual attention - accurate and effortless eye movements - stable alignment of the eyes, or visual centering - optimum accommodative (focus) ranges - comfortable and accurate spatial orientation - eye/hand/body coordination - excellent visual perception - the elimination of compensatory behaviors/ splinter skills - good reading skills and comprehension Progress towards these goals may be measured by: - changes in behavior - changes in posture - improved visual attention - improved performance in reading, writing, and comprehension in general, including duration, speed and enthusiasm - better performance in school, work, and recreational activities - elimination of painful, tired eyes and headaches - a decrease in frustration and avoidance behaviors - improved simultaneous processing - spatial awareness/ sports performance - improved memory Who Benefits from Vision Therapy? Children and adults with visual challenges, such as: • Learning-related Vision Problems Vision Therapy can help those individuals who lack the necessary visual skills for effective reading, writing, and learning (i.e., eye movement and focusing skills, convergence, eye-hand activity, visual memory skills, etc.). • Poor Binocular Coordination Vision Therapy helps individuals develop normal coordination and teamwork of the two eyes (binocular vision). When the two eyes fail to work together as an effective team, performance in many areas can suffer (reading, sports, depth perception, eye contact, etc.). • Strabismus and Amblyopia Vision Therapy programs offer much higher cure rates for turned eyes and/or lazy eye when compared to eye surgery, glasses, and/or patching, without therapy. The earlier the patient receives Vision Therapy the better, however, our office has successfully treated patients well past 21 years of age. • Visual Rehabilitation for Special Populations Vision can be compromised as a result of neurological disorders or trauma to the nervous system (such as, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, whiplash, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, etc.). Vision Therapy may effectively treat the visual consequences of trauma (including double vision). • Sports Vision Improvement Strong visual skills are critical to sports success. Not much happens in sports until your eyes instruct your hands and body as to what to do! Accurate vision and athletic visual skills can be measured, developed, and enhanced through Vision Therapy. We can measure and successfully improve eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, peripheral awareness, eye teaming, focusing, tracking, and visualization skills (to mention just a few). What does VT look like? FUN!!! If you walked into our office during a Vision Therapy session, you might see bouncing balls, balance boards, memory games, I Spy, computer programs, physical balls, blocks, “line” walking, mazes, red/green cards, balloons, bubbles, chalk board circles, jumping jacks, brock strings, etc. These activities are all done under supervision with specific purposes, often with the use of prisms, to achieve patient goals. Dr. Filar accepts vision therapy patients. To find out if vision therapy is the right course of action for you or your loved one, an initial comprehensive eye exam is the first step. Then a second appointment will be scheduled for approximately 1 ½ hours of developmental and perceptual testing, in which Dr. Filar isolates and identifies skills that need strengthening through therapy. Subsequent therapy sessions occur once per week, or every other week, and last 45 minutes. For more vision therapy information and resources, be sure to check out our Visagraph page, and our links page. |
Vision
Therapy
Therapy
