Vision therapy helps patients to achieve clear and comfortable vision. Therapists use exercises to improve a patient’s visual skills. This helps with focus, learning, reading, attention, and coordination. Vision therapy is a personalized and fully customized program designed to strengthen and enhance visual skills. Children, especially, respond well to vision therapy.
Vision therapy teaches the visual system to interpret information with ease and accuracy. It can help patients to acquire clear and comfortable vision. Improving brain-eye communication ensures the effective operation of the visual system.
Therapy helps to improve skills such as focusing, eye tracking, and hand-eye coordination. They also improve convergence and fast visual processing. Therapists use specialized techniques and devices to treat various vision conditions.
Vision therapy can treat a wide range of visual issues. Customized programs treat conditions, including:
Amblyopia (lazy eye).
Strabismus (crossed eyes).
Double vision or binocular vision disorder (BVD).
Convergence insufficiency.
Eye tracking and teaming issues.
Focusing difficulties.
3D vision and depth perception difficulties.
Eye fatigue.
Hand-eye coordination problems.
Problems with visual perception and processing.
Some signs can indicate a patient needs vision therapy. They include:
Reduced reading comprehension.
Reading below grade level.
Spelling difficulties.
Poor handwriting.
Confusing similar words.
Omission of words.
Repetition.
Difficulty with attention.
Poor depth perception.
Problems changing focus.
Specialists use lenses, filters, prisms, occluders, and other devices to develop the patient’s visual skills. The exercises help to improve the efficiency of information processing from the visual system. Therapists use computer-based programs and advanced technology to make the therapy more interactive and engaging. They design programs depending on the patient’s visual needs.
There is no age limit for vision therapy. While it is more popular for children, adults can also benefit from this therapy. Neuroplasticity is a process that allows the brain to remain flexible and dynamic throughout an individual’s life.
Adults who have suffered a stroke or TBI affecting brain function can benefit from vision therapy. Training the visual process can be compared to playing a musical instrument. The more you practice, the better and more skillful you become.
Most patients experience improved visual skills after a few weeks of therapy. Each individual is different, and results often depend on the specific therapy program. It can take a few weeks to several months to achieve optimal focus, coordination, and visual results.
After the first treatment, the doctor will continue to monitor the patient’s improvement. That way, the doctor can see how many sessions are needed to achieve the desired results. Vision therapy can help to improve a child’s academic performance. It is also effective for adults and can help to change their lives.
For more on vision therapy, visit Holistic Vision at our office in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Call (267) 500-9600 to book an appointment today.