20/20 is Not Enough!!
Vision Therapy is a non-surgical method of rehabilitating visual function with the use of exercises that build muscle strength, maximize binocular coordination and reverse some visual deficits.
Different activities designed for the individual's specific issue are prescribed in order to enhance the patient's ability to control his visual function.
The use of lenses, prisms, filters, patches, specialized instruments, and computer programs is an integral part of vision therapy.
The types of diagnoses that are helped with Vision Therapy include:
-Ocular motility dysfunctions (eye movement disorders
-Non-strabismic binocular disorders (inefficient eye teaming)
-Strabismus (Eye turns)
-Amblyopia (poorly developed vision)
-Accommodative disorders (focusing problems)
-Visual information processing disorders, including visual-motor integration
Many times Vision Therapy includes a once-a-week in office session, complemented by at-home exercises.
An individualized computer program is occasionally prescribed as well. In certain cases with older children and adults, the computer program is enough to treat the dysfunction.
An easy way to think of Vision Therapy is that it is Physical Therapy for the eyes. Each eye has six muscles surrounding it. These muscles must coordinate with each other in order to accurately guide the eye to the appropriate target. Then they must also coordinate with all the six muscles of the other eye in order to make sure that the two eyes are both pointing at the same spot. When the system of muscles is not working properly, the exercises help them strength and accuracy.