What Is Optometric Vision Therapy and How Can It Improve Your Visual Skills?

Vision is essential to navigating life, impacting not only how we see but also how we learn, read, and engage with the world. For some, visual challenges can create obstacles in everyday activities and overall quality of life. Optometric vision therapy is a specialized program designed to improve visual skills, enabling patients to perform better in school, work, and recreational activities.

What is Optometric Vision Therapy?

Optometric vision therapy is a non-invasive, personalized program of visual activities designed to correct or improve specific vision problems. It is similar to physical therapy but focuses on the eyes and the parts of the brain that manage vision. The goal is to develop, improve, and reinforce the visual skills necessary for comfortable and efficient vision.

Optometric vision therapy seeks to address the root cause of visual issues by training the eye-brain connection. An optometric vision therapy program usually consists of in-office sessions, with activities and exercises customized to the individual’s unique visual needs. The exercises are also often supplemented by at-home exercises to reinforce the skills learned.

How Does Optometric Vision Therapy Work?

Optometric vision therapy is generally overseen by a developmental optometrist who specializes in visual development and rehabilitation. The therapy is highly individualized and tailored to address the specific issues that a patient faces. Here’s an outline of how a typical optometric vision therapy program is structured:

Assessment and Diagnosis: The program begins with a comprehensive vision evaluation to identify underlying issues affecting visual skills. This assessment examines not only eye health but also how the brain interprets visual information, coordination between the two eyes, focusing ability, and depth perception.
Customized Treatment Plan: Based on the assessment, the optometrist develops a treatment plan with exercises designed to address the specific challenges identified. The therapy may include activities involving eye tracking, focusing, eye-hand coordination, and visual memory.
In-Office Therapy Sessions: These sessions are guided by the optometrist and may involve exercises with specialized equipment like prisms, filters, balance boards, and computer-based visual training systems.
At-Home Exercises: To reinforce the skills learned in therapy, patients are usually assigned home exercises to practice regularly. This consistency helps to build and maintain improvements in visual function.

Who Can Benefit from Optometric Vision Therapy?

Optometric vision therapy can help a variety of individuals, from children with developmental visual issues to adults who experience vision-related difficulties in their daily lives. Common candidates include:

Children with Learning Difficulties: Children who struggle with reading, writing, or focusing in school may have undiagnosed vision issues. Symptoms may include losing place while reading, skipping lines, or poor comprehension.
Patients with Convergence Insufficiency (CI): CI is a condition where the eyes struggle to work together, making it hard to focus on near tasks. This can lead to eye strain, headaches, and double vision, especially when reading.
Athletes: Athletes rely on visual skills such as tracking, peripheral awareness, and reaction time. Optometric vision therapy can help improve these skills, giving them a competitive edge.
Adults with Workplace Vision Challenges: Extended screen time can lead to issues like digital eye strain, blurred vision, and difficulty focusing. Optometric vision therapy can help mitigate these effects.
Individuals with Amblyopia or Strabismus: Optometric vision therapy can be effective for conditions like "lazy eye" (amblyopia) or "crossed eyes" (strabismus), helping improve eye alignment and coordination.
Post-Concussion Patients: After a concussion or traumatic brain injury, some patients experience visual issues. Optometric vision therapy can aid in rehabilitating the visual system and alleviating symptoms like dizziness and difficulty focusing.

How Optometric Vision Therapy Improves Visual Skills

Optometric vision therapy is designed to strengthen and enhance various visual skills. Here are some of the key areas that therapy can improve:

Eye Tracking

Eye tracking, or the ability to move the eyes smoothly and accurately, is essential for tasks like reading and sports. Individuals with poor eye tracking may lose their place frequently, skip words, or struggle with comprehension. Optometric vision therapy exercises can help improve tracking ability, making reading and focusing on moving objects much easier.

Eye Focusing (Accommodation)

Focusing allows us to shift our attention between near and far objects seamlessly. Those with accommodation issues may struggle to keep things in focus, especially when looking back and forth between distances, such as taking notes from a board or using a computer. Optometric vision therapy can train the eyes to focus accurately and efficiently.

Eye Teaming (Binocular Vision)

Eye teaming, or binocular vision, refers to the ability to use both eyes together in a coordinated manner. People with poor eye teaming skills may experience double vision, headaches, and eye strain. Optometric vision therapy helps develop proper eye alignment and coordination, essential for depth perception and preventing double vision.

Depth Perception and Spatial Awareness

Depth perception and spatial awareness are critical for understanding where objects are located in space. This is especially important for driving, sports, and moving through crowded spaces. Optometric vision therapy exercises can enhance these skills, making it easier to judge distances and avoid obstacles.

Peripheral Awareness

Peripheral vision refers to the ability to see things outside the direct line of sight. Good peripheral vision is necessary for safe driving, sports, and everyday activities. Optometric vision therapy can help increase peripheral awareness, improving overall situational awareness.

Eye-Hand Coordination

Eye-hand coordination is the ability to use our vision to guide our hands in tasks like catching a ball, typing, or writing. Optometric vision therapy strengthens this skill, which can benefit athletes and children struggling with fine motor tasks in school.

Visual Memory and Visualization

Visual memory is essential for tasks that involve recalling visual information, such as reading and spelling. Visualization helps with imagination, planning, and organizing thoughts. Optometric vision therapy can enhance visual memory and visualization, aiding academic performance and daily tasks.

When to Consider Optometric Vision Therapy

If you or a loved one experience any of the following symptoms, optometric vision therapy might be beneficial:

Frequent headaches or eye strain
Difficulty focusing on reading or close work
Poor academic performance not explained by other factors
Double vision or trouble keeping place while reading
Delayed recovery from concussions or other head injuries

To learn more about optometric vision therapy and how it can help you achieve optimal visual health and performance, schedule a consultation with The Center for Vision Development today.