Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult for people to read and interpret words. People with dyslexia have trouble identifying the parts of words and understanding how different letters and groups of letters work together to make sounds. They may have problems learning how to spell, read fluently, recognize word patterns and meanings, or write correctly.
Many people with dyslexia have some degree of vision problems that make it hard for them to see clearly. Read on as a Washington, DC vision therapy optometrist talks about dyslexia and ways vision therapy can help treat it.
When we think of vision problems, we tend to think of things like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. But there are other vision problems that can impact your ability to see clearly, and they can cause you to have trouble reading or learning effectively.
One such condition is called accommodative dysfunction. This happens when your eyes can’t properly focus on objects at various distances—something that’s vital for reading. Accommodative dysfunction can also be a symptom of an eye disease such as myopia or hyperopia (farsightedness).
Another common problem is called convergence insufficiency, which causes the eyes to not work together properly during near tasks like reading. This may lead to headaches and eyestrain, but it’s important to note that no one will experience these symptoms all the time—they’ll come and go depending on what you’re doing with them.
Vision therapy is a non-invasive treatment that helps treat a variety of conditions, including dyslexia. It involves strengthening the eye muscles so they can focus on words while they read or write and make sense of what they’re seeing on paper (if they’re having trouble). It also helps improve your child’s ability to process visual information, such as letters and numbers.
Vision therapy exercises can help improve reading ability in children who have dyslexia, as well as adults who have suffered from brain injuries or strokes.
During a vision therapy session, patients wear special glasses that help them improve their eyesight and strengthen their eye muscles. Patients will also perform certain exercises designed to improve their visual processing skills and help them understand text more clearly.
If you have more questions or wish to schedule a consultation, feel free to call our Washington, DC vision therapy optometry office anytime!