Optometric Vision Therapy :

Vision therapy, an optometric specialty treatment,has been clinically shown to be an effective treatment for accommodative disorders (non-presbyopic eye focusing Problems), binocular dysfunction (inefficient eye teaming), ocular motility dysfunctions (eye movement disorders), strabismus (turned eye), amblyopia (lazy eye), and perceptual-motor dysfunction. 

Many vision disorders can be treated with corrective lenses such as glasses or contacts, while other disorders may be most effectively treated with optometric vision therapy or with a combination of the two.

Visual skills such as accommodation (eye focusing), binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming), oculomotor (eye movement skills), and eye hand coordination are neuro-muscular abilities. These visual skills are controlled by the muscles inside and outside the eye and are networked with the brain.

Neuro-muscular abilities are learned and are developmental in nature. There is a general misconception that weak visual skills will go away with time. But, studies show that it has to be treated properly. Binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming), oculomotor (eye movement skills), and eye hand coordination can be retrained to perform more efficiently at almost any age. Accommodation (eye focusing) can be improved until the person’s age is 40.

Optometric vision therapy is a set of procedures that are individualized and prescribed by an optometrist to teach a patient how to improve a weak or nonexistent visual skill or processing skill through the use of lenses, prisms, special computer programs, and other treatment techniques.  This is a treatment to improve a specific vision disorder; it is not a treatment for dyslexia, learning disabilities, or attention deficit disorder.

Weak visual and processing skills reduce the individual's ability to quickly and accurately comprehend the reading material. Reading and learning become easier after the skills are improved through the treatment of vision therapy . 

The visual abilities, which are needed in sports, can be trained through vision therapy to reach their maximum potential. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) may be improved by vision therapy, prescription glasses, or modifications to the workstation. Users can seek the help of an optometrist to determine if their accommodative (eye focusing) or binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming) skills are adequate.

Research studies have shown that children and adults with amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (turned eye) may be able to improve their visual performance and function through vision therapy. For many years, it was thought that amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (turned eye) was only amenable to treatment during the "critical period".

This is the period up to age seven or eight years. However, recent research has demonstrated that effective treatment can occur at any age, but the length of the treatment period increases dramatically, if this condition has existed for a prolonged time prior to treatment. 

The prognosis for strabismus can vary from very poor to excellent depending on the type of deviation, type and number of visual adaptations (suppression, abnormal retinal correspondence, or amblyopia), duration of condition, and prior interventions. A study by Dr. Gary Etting, O.D., F.C.O.V.D. in 1978 showed that 57% of patients with constant esotropia and 82% with constant exotropia had a functional and cosmetic cure with vision therapy.

The cure rate was 100% for patients with intermittent esotropia and 85% for patients with intermittent exotropia. Individuals with mild or no amblyopia, normal retinal correspondence, some depth perception, and a deviation that remains essentially the same in all positions of gaze will have a better prognosis than someone who does not. If you want to find out whether this would be an effective treatment for you, do consult an optometrist who specializes in vision therapy. 

People suffering from brain injuries and certain types of vision Problems can benefit a lot from vision therapy. The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association International, Inc. (NORA) provides more information about various treatment options available for those with vision Problems and brain injuries.

Vision therapy is a very old technique. Physicians in the mid-1800s originally introduced many of the techniques that are used today. Modern Optometric Vision Therapy was pioneered in the United States in 1928 by optometrist A. M. Skeffington. Throughout the years, vision therapy has been called various names such as visual training, orthoptics, or eye exercises. 

A few insurance companies cover optometric vision therapy, if it is addressing a condition that is classified as a disease such as convergence insufficiency. Vision therapy falls under the area of Major Medical. Insurance companies classify vision therapy as “Orthoptics” with a CPT (procedure) code of 92065.

If this treatment procedure is covered, the percentage of coverage and the number of sessions covered can vary greatly. Vision therapy is not generally covered by vision care plans that simply cover eye examinations, eyeglasses, or contact lenses.

Ergonomic problem : Computer vision syndrome (CVS)

CVS is a condition that affects many computer users. Studies show that approximately 70% of computer workers have vision Problems. The symptoms of CVS include eyestrain, dry or burning eyes, blurred vision, headaches, double vision, distorted color vision, and neck and backaches. This condition can be due to various factors.

One factor is poor visual skills such as accommodative (eye focusing) skills or binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming) skills. Another factor is the tendency of computer users to stare at monitors for long periods without changing eye focus from time to time. The distance between a computer user and a monitor is another factor. Room lighting, monitor glare, screen color, print color, and print size can also be contributing factors to this condition.

Medical conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (turned eye), and brain injuries can have a major affect on your vision. Amblyopia causes reduced acuity in the affected eye, poor eye hand coordination, and poor depth perception. Strabismus can cause double vision and poor depth perception.

Brain Injuries, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Mild Acquired Brain Injury, Mild Closed Head injury, Post-Concussive Syndrome, Cervical Trauma Syndrome, Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, and Cerebral Vascular Accident, can cause a reduced visual field (reduced peripheral vision), double vision, and other vision Problems.