What is Vision Therapy?

Vision Therapy (also known as visual training or eye gym) is an individualised program aimed to train and enhance an individual’s visual abilities. It can be used to “treat existing visual problems such as amblyopia (lazy eye), eye alignment problems, eye coordination problems, poorly sustained near focus, inadequate eye-hand coordination and immature perceptual development; enhance the efficiency and comfort of visual function; and help prevent some visual problems.” https://www.acbo.org.au/for-patients/your-questions-answered/what-is-vision-therapy. Vision Therapy is not designed to strengthen eye muscles, instead it aims to enhance eye coordination along with improving functionality and visual processing.

 

They are not just "Eye Exercises"
Unlike other forms of exercise, the goal of Optometric Vision Therapy is not to strengthen eye muscles. Your eye muscles are already incredibly strong. Instead, Vision Therapy aims to retrain the learned aspects of vision through the recently-understood concept of neuroplasticity. Optometric Vision Therapy should not be confused with any self-directed program of eye exercises which is or has been marketed to the public. Optometric vision therapy is supported by ongoing evidence-based scientific research.

 

 

Optometric Vision Therapy is:

dot point   A progressive program of vision procedures
dot point   Performed under doctor supervision
dot point   Individualized to fit the visual needs of each patient
dot point   Generally conducted in-office, in fortnightly sessions of an hour


Depending on the case, the procedures are prescribed to:

dot point   Help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities
dot point   Improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency
dot point   Change how a patient processes or interprets visual information

http://www.covd.org/?page=Vision_Therapy

 

Vision Therapy for Adults
Is it Too Late?
Many people think that vision therapy is only for children. However, adults have as much need for this type of vision care as children. Vision Therapy is often more effective for adults because they are usually more motivated to improve their visual abilities, whereas children may not understand that they have a problem or how that problem may affect their interests or future.

Plenty of people have visual problems sustaining near-centered work, including reading, writing, and computer use. When people have trouble using both eyes together or can't focus for great lengths of time, they do not simply grow out of these problems. Children with visual problems often become adults with visual problems.


How a Vision Problem Can Affect Your Life
Adults will figure out many ways to compensate for their visual problems so that they can continue with any strenuous visual work they need to do. Often, adults come home from work extremely tired when all they did was sit at a desk and do paperwork. Some people will feel as if they had just run a 10K race! Children, on the other hand, will tend to avoid tasks that are difficult or make them feel inadequate.


How to Improve Your Vision
A developmental optometrist can help to reduce the strain of near work as well as work with any other kinds of visual problems. The proper lenses along with vision therapy make a tremendous difference in an adult's ability to function at work or sports, just as with children of school age.