Vision Therapy is a type of Physical Therapy. Like other forms of physical therapy, with vision therapy, optimum results require much more than visual acuity or binocular eye muscle control. Vision therapy integrates visual acuity and binocular function plus detailed brain function activities that collectively control thousands of components of our entire body's coordinated actions. Your visual system is your steering system. Vision Therapy makes it better.
We provide complete diagnostic and therapeutic care for children and adults with following types of vision problems:
- Eye tracking
- Eye teaming (Strabismus)
- Eye focusing (Visual Acuity)
- Learning-related vision problems
- Visual Information Processing
- Computer related vision problems
- Sports vision
- Acquired brain injury related vision problems
What is Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is a sequence of therapy procedures that are individually prescribed and monitored by the doctor to develop efficient visual skills and visual processing. Vision therapy is prescribed following a comprehensive evaluation of the visual system. The vision therapy program is based on the results of standardized tests, the patient’s specific signs and symptoms plus a careful look at the needs of the patient.
The use of lenses, prisms, filters, occluders, specialized instruments and computer programs is an integral part of vision therapy. Typically, vision therapy is administered as a combination of in-office visits combined with prescribed, daily home-vision therapy procedures.The in-office therapy is designed to make the patient aware of his or her visual deficiencies under controlled conditions. Then by a feedback process the patient is taught strategies to improve visual performance.
Visit The American Optometric Association Website for the Optometry position paper on vision therapy.
Sports Vision Therapy
To the average person, 20/20 vision is just fine; but for an athlete, a myriad of visual skills are needed in order to excel. These skills include:
Dynamic Visual Acuity – visual acuity while in motion
Eye Tracking – the ability to “keep your eyes on the ball,” no matter how fast it may be traveling
Eye Focusing – changing focus quickly and accurately from one distance to another
Peripheral Vision – seeing people and objects “out of the corner of your eye”while concentrating on a fixed point
Fusion Flexibility and Stamina – the ability to keep both eyes working together while engaged in high speed, physically stressful situations
Depth Perception – quickly and accurately judging the distance and speed of objects
Visualization – picturing events with your “mind’s eye” or imagination
Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination – precise coordination between the visual and action systems
Visual Reaction Time – the time needed to process and respond to what is happening
Visual Concentration – the ability to screen out distractions and stay focused on the ball/target
Athletes, both professional and amateur, have found that these visual skills play such an important part in sports performance that many are turning to Sports Vision Training to stay on top of their game. Sport Vision Training, a branch of Optometric Vision Therapy, provides specialized therapy to develop visual skills to a peak level to improve the athlete’s ability to follow a ball, react more quickly, judge depth accurately, and improve hand/ eye coordination.
Call (205) 408-4414 for information on scheduling.
Sports Success!
James plays little league baseball and shortly after completing the first phase of therapy, he began hitting the baseball better. In fact, he started hitting balls over the fence for home runs. This is something we have yet to see any other eight year old do. He also got much better at catching pop fly balls. We attribute this in part to his being able to see and track the baseball better.
– Shelia L.