| What is Vision? |
|
|
Vision is learned and
developed, starting from birth. One visual skill builds on
another, step by step as we grow. We do not "see" with our eyes
or our brain; rather, vision is the reception and processing of
visual information by the total person. Vision is more than
20/20 eyesight. It is a complex process involving over 20 visual
abilities and more than 65% of all the pathways to the brain.
Nearly 80% of what we perceive, comprehend and remember depends
on the efficiency of the visual system. |
|
What is Vision Training? |
 |
|
Vision training, orthoptics, visual therapy or VT is
prescribed to develop, improve and enhance individuals' visual
performances. After the doctor has conducted a Developmental Vision Evaluation,
he may prescribe vision training, lenses or both to improve those
visual skills which are hindering performance. A specific vision training
program will be developed for the individual by the doctor.
Training includes at-home activities (about 1/2 hour per day) and in-office
activities with the doctor and a vision therapist (one hour per week).
Training is scheduled in 8- to 12-week blocks of time depending on the diagnosis
and severity of the problem. Studies show that success in vision
training depends on an appropriate program and on an individual's cooperation,
participation and motivation. |
| |
| Who Can Benefit
from Vision Training? |
Children and adults with learning and reading difficulties
Juvenile Delinquents
Autistic Individuals
Individuals with attention deficit disorder Juvenile
delinquents
Dyslexics
Athletes
Partially sighted (legally blind) in conjunction with low
vision systems
Stroke and traumatic brain injury victims Autistic
individuals
All ages — babies to senior citizens |
|
| |
| Signs and
Symptoms of a Vision Problem |
|
|
|
| Performance Clues |
Avoidance of near work
Frequent loss of place
Omitting, inserting, or rereading
letters/words
Confusing similar looking words
Failure to recognize the same
word in the next sentence
Poor reading comprehension
Letter/word reversals after first grade
Difficulty copying from the
chalkboard
Poor handwriting, mis-aligned
numbers
Book held too close to the eyes
Inconsistent or poor sports
performance |
|
|
|
| |
| The visual skills
which can be developed and enhanced through visual
training are: |
|
Pursuit Tracking - follow a moving object smoothly and
accurately with both eyes, such as a ball in flight or
moving vehicles in traffic.
Saccadic Fixation - quickly and accurately locate and
inspect with both eyes a series of stationary objects, one
after another, such as moving from word to word and from
the end of one line to the beginning of the next while
reading.
Focus Change - look quickly from far to near and vice
versa without momentary blur, such as looking from the
chalkboard to a book or from the dashboard to cars on the
street.
Depth Perception - judge relative distances of objects to
see and move accurately in three-dimensional space, such
as when hitting a ball or parking a car.
Peripheral Vision - monitor and interpret what is
happening around you while you are attending to a specific
central visual task — very useful in team sports.
Binocularity - use both eyes together smoothly, equally,
simultaneously and accurately. Maintaining Attention -
keep doing any particular skill or activity with ease and
without interfering with the performance of other skills.
Near Vision Acuity - clearly see, inspect, identify and
understand objects at a near distance. People with 20/20
distance sight still may have visual problems.
Visualization - form mental images in your "mind's eye",
retain or store them for future recall, or for synthesis
into new mental images beyond your current or past direct
experiences. |
| |
| In addition
to testing for refractive correction and eye health,
we test for: |
Sustaining Near Focus
Visual Motor Integration
Focusing Near to Far
Eye Training Ability Depth Perception
Eye Movement Control |
|
Form Perception
Depth Perception
Visual Memory
Contrast Sensitivity
Reading with Both Eyes Together
Peripheral Vision / Awareness |
|
|
|
| |
|
|