Vision Therapy
Along with a range of other techniques, Vision Therapy includes Behavioural Therapy which caters to improving the visual skills of an individual. These therapies can be practised by a professional Orthopist or Optometrist in the hospital/clinic/centre or at home.
The exercises are based on individual eye disorders. An important note here is that Vision Therapy is a two-sided treatment, it needs complete dedication of the patient and proper assessment and techniques of the Optometrist.
Commonly referred to as Vision Training, the aim is to improve eye movement control and eye coordination.
The cost of this treatment is far less in India when compared with other countries.
Objectives of Vision Therapy
- Change one's understanding of visual information.
- Assist patients in improving and developing required visual skills.
- Increase the vision efficacy and comfort of the patient.
- In India, the therapy is used to develop the necessary visual skills and abilities.
- The primary objective is that of imparting the comfort of vision.
Pencil Push-Up Therapy.
Activities that stress vergence, eye movements, accommodation and visual information processing.
Prism or Lens Fixation.
Patching. Vision Rest.
When to opt for Vision Therapy?
The following cases need Vision Therapy:- Strabismus: Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. The eye that is focused on an object can alternate. If present during a large part of childhood, it may result in amblyopia or loss of depth perception. If it starts during adulthood, chances of double vision are more likely.
- Eye Movement disorders: According to research Vision Therapy can greatly improve eye movement during reading and other such activities.
- Focusing Disorders: Vision training can help those suffering with eye focusing disorders.
- Amblyopia: Commonly described as "Lazy Eye" this is a condition where the eye or eyes fail to obtain normal visual due to Strabismus or any other eye disorder.
- Binocular Vision Problems: Binocular vision problems such as Phorias may cause a visible eye turn and lead to eye strain and fatigue while reading or other vision activities. A specialist should be consulted for vision therapy program to improve the visual skills.
Who would be benefitted from Vision Therapy?
- Those suffering from blurred vision eye problem.
- The incapability of doing close-up works causes pain near the eyes, forehead, and back of the head. In such cases, Vision Therapy is the best solution.
- Double vision eye problem, meaning that the patient sees two of a thing when only one exists.
- When a brain block, ignores the complete or a part of the object, Vision therapy is of help.
- Low performance, in this eye condition, the person skips a few lines while reading, or a few words, thus causing difficulty in understanding what is read.
- If you suffer from fatigue, stress and pain in the eyes at the end of your day, then vision therapy is the most suitable treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vision Therapy?
- A program of specially designed vision improving exercises
- Doctor supervision is mandatory
- Custom designed based on individual conditions
- Usually sessions are of 30 minutes duration and are conducted at the hospital/clinic/centre, once or twice a week. May be accompanied with some home assignments.
What does Vision Therapy use?
- Specially designed therapeutic lenses
- Prisms and Filters
- An implement designed to temporarily block light to one eye, known as Occluders
- Electronic targets with timer
- Balance boards
- Special tools designed for unique vision training exercises
What is the goal of Vision Therapy?
- Assist the patients in improving basic visual abilities
- Imparting visual comfort and ease
- Change how a patient interprets any visual details
Is it too Late?
- A general misconception that prevails is that vision therapy is only for children. Adults have a similar need for this type of vision care.
- Children suffering from visual problems are very likely to grow as adults with the visual problems intensified.
How does Vision Problem Affect Your Life?
- Very often, adults return from work extremely fatigued. Some might feel as if they have just run a marathon. Whereas, children would try to avoid activities that are strenuous for them or make them feel incompetent.
How to Improve Your Vision?
- Proper lenses and vision training would make a mammoth difference in an adult's ability to perform at work or sports, just as with school-going children. Clinical results have established that vision therapy produces significant improvement in vision symptoms for adults. A professional optometrist can assist in reducing the strain and discomfort.
How to Identify a Vision Problem?
- A comprehensive eye exam whenever children face visible visual symptoms. Many of these vision problems may not be detected during limited assessment as part of a school routine pediatric health evaluation.
- It is advised that both adults and children gain a complete understanding of the possible symptoms experienced with improper vision.
SYMPTOMS
Possible vision problems
- Blurred vision
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Squints
- Nearsightedness and Farsightedness
- Astigmatism
Covers or closes one eye
- Occasional double vision
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Inability to read for long
- Hampered reading comprehension
- Inability to coordinate the eyes together
Holds things very close
- Blurred vision
- Hampered reading comprehension
- Tired eyes
- Inability to read for long
- Headaches while reading
- Inability to quickly refocus eyes
Excessive movement when reading
- Frequently skips lines while reading
- Need to use finger to keep track
- Hampered reading comprehension
- Short attention span
- Inadequate ability to smoothly and accurately move the eyes from one point to another
Mistakes words with similar beginnings
- Difficulty in recognizing letters, words, or simple shapes
- Finds it tough to differentiate the main idea from insignificant information
- Difficulty in learning basic math concepts of size and position
- Inability to discriminate size, shape, or form
Poor reading comprehension
- Weak in spellings
- Trouble with mathematical concepts
- Difficulty in recalling visually presented material
- Problems in remembering and understanding that what is seen
Unclear handwriting and drawing
- Inability to stay on lines
- Poor copying skills
- Can respond orally but not in writing
- Inability to analyze visual images through drawing or writing
Difficulty learning right and left
- Reverses the letters and words
- Trouble in writing and remembering numbers
- Low development of left/right awareness
