Vision Therapy
Vision
Therapy is a treatment plan to guide a patient as they learn how to correct
dysfunctions of the visual system. Sometimes
glasses can help, but often eye muscle exercises are needed to make it easier
for a person to track words across a page or to focus back and forth from
distance to near objects. Vision
therapy is also useful in developing visual perceptual skills such as visual
memory (for spelling, word recognition), visualization (for reading
comprehension, math), eye-hand coordination (handwriting, sports), and visual
discrimination (recognizing b and d, etc.).
The
best results are achieved when a person is able to work with a vision therapist
in-office one hour/week and given exercises to do at home 5 days/week for 8-35
weeks. Like all exercise, it is only
beneficial if the person is committed to doing it on a regular basis.
If
a person cannot commit to the time and expense of in-office therapy, he/she may
benefit from vision therapy software which can be programmed to address
individual vision dysfunctions. The
software is completely automated so the person will know exactly which exercises
to do at home or school and for how long each day.
Progress can be monitored by the doctor and the patient from the
patient’s computer data disk. It
is strongly recommended that the patient schedule at least two progress checks
with the doctor at 2 weeks and at 8 weeks.
Progress
evaluations are necessary to monitor changes in the visual system.
Sometimes it is necessary to add or change or delete a glasses
prescription as these visual changes occur throughout the program.
In order to determine which exercises may be best for each patient a
developmental and perceptual battery of tests is necessary.
It
is important to note that vision therapy is not a tutoring program, it serves to
develop the visual skills students need to read and learn more efficiently.
With vision therapy we hope to help relieve the stress and frustration
caused by learning-related vision problems.
If you would like more information about learning related vision
problems, please contact one of the following resources:
· Parents
Active for Vision Education (PAVE): http://www.pavevision.org
· Dr.
Diana Koslowske (Developmental Optometrist): 616-874-7059
· Rx
Optical (5429 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids): 616-365-7600
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