Studies suggest that over 25% of children have an undiagnosed vision problem that could be affecting their academic success, athletic performance, or just general day-to-day life. However, it’s not just children that are affected. Many adults go through life with substandard vision, with a large percentage never even realizing that their eyesight could be significantly improved without using prescription eyewear or surgery.
However, not all vision problems are necessarily refractive – vision is a very complex thing and many of the issues that occur are a result of poor visual skills, rather than problems with the way that light is refracted by the eyes. This means that they can’t always simply be fixed by wearing glasses or contact lenses. Instead, it’s necessary to work on these visual skills to improve them and make them stronger. This can be done using vision therapy.
Recognizing that you need vision therapy is often one of the most difficult aspects of the process. That’s because while there are many symptoms of functional vision problems, many of them are mild and easily overlooked, or are also signs of other issues.
If you have poor vision and can identify with any of the following features, you may potentially benefit from having vision therapy:
Crossed/lazy eye
Frequently tilting your head to one side, causing one shoulder to sit higher than the other even at rest
Squinting, excessive blinking, and closing one eye during visual concentration
Holding your face close to what you are reading
Poor hand-eye coordination
Clumsiness/poor spatial awareness
Difficult throwing/catching airborne objects
Headaches, especially in the forehead and/or temples
Burning, itching eyes
Eyes that appear redder than they should
Poor posture
Back pain
Blurred vision
Motion sickness
Double vision
Regular bouts of nausea or dizziness for no obvious reason
Short attention space
Difficulties with reading, including skipping words or lines, losing your place easily, and difficulty remembering the content of what you read
Struggling with handwriting
Moving head to follow objects rather than eyes
Vision therapy is a straightforward, personalized treatment plan that targets the specific visual skills that the patient is struggling with. By working on these visual skills, it may be possible for the patient to overcome many of the issues that they have been experiencing. For example, by making it easier to pay attention, reducing headaches and neck pain, or improving your ability to remember what you’ve just read.
Your eye doctor will be able to advise you which visual skills you have that require development and will create a treatment plan that focuses on these areas. Patients are typically asked to attend one in-office appointment every week, although you may also be asked to complete some exercises at home to support your progress. All treatment techniques are painless, non-invasive, and drug-free, such as the use of patches, prisms, and exercises.
If you are concerned that you may need vision therapy, don’t hesitate to contact our team for an assessment. Call St. Marys Family Eyecare in St. Marys, Ohio at (419) 800-0400 today to schedule an appointment.