Vision Development of WNY

The dream that fostered Vision Development of WNY began many years ago, when Dr. Dick O’Connor met a little girl named Beth. Here is his story:

I’m often asked why I do what I do for a living and what keeps me working in Behavioral Optometry. My favorite part of Optometric Vision Therapy is the look on a parent’s face when they “get” that I understand the reason for their child’s underperformance/frustration and that we have a plan that can help.

During clinic rotation in my last year of Optometry school I met Beth. She was nine years old, in third grade for the second time, and failing badly.  We talked. She was sharp and funny, but could not keep up academically. Beth had 20/20 visual acuity, so no one thought the cause of her school problems was due to a vision problem.

My evaluation however revealed significant difficulty using her eyes together when working up close (reading), to the point that she saw double and thought that was normal.

At the end of a six-month Vision Therapy program, Beth jumped into my arms with her report card in hand. It showed two A’s and four B’s. Even more significant to me was the fact than instead of working long hours trying to keep up in school, Beth now had free time for fun and friends.

Beth was a literal ‘eye-opener’ for me. I knew I could never stop doing this work because of all the Beths in the world who deserved a better chance at life.” I’ve come to know it was God calling me to my destiny.

For over 45 years Dr. Dick O’Connor has been restoring hope and vision to families whose loved ones experience learning disabilities, developmental delays, behavioral issues or disorders, concussions or traumatic brain injuries, and strokes.

• He is a 1975 graduate from The Southern College of Optometry.
• Between 1975-1977, he worked for Dr. Joyce Adema in New Orleans in a large Behavioral Optometry practice, as well as an inner-city health clinic.
• From 1977-1985 O’Connor operated his own Optometry practice, which offered Primary Care and Behavioral Optometry, in conjunction with his father’s practice – Dick O’Connor Optical.
• On June 1, 1985 he joined a group practice in East Aurora which later became Aurora Optometric Group, practicing Primary Care and Behavioral Optometry. He continued to practice there until August 31, 2017.
• On September 1, 2017 O’Connor opened Vision Development of WNY to practice full time Behavioral Optometry.
• He is a member of the national, state and local American Optometric Associations, College of Vision Development, the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Associations, and the Optometric Extension Program Foundation.
• O’Connor has served his profession by being a past President of the WNY Optometric Association and Secretary & Fellow of the College of Syntonic Optometry.
• He has served his community as past President of the Kiwanis of East Aurora and Past President of the Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
• With the goal of educating and helping more people, Dr. O’Connor is often invited to speak to groups of physical therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, and nurses at universities, schools, and hospitals.

Dr. Alyssa Fortuna’s passion for Vision Therapy grew when she shadowed Dr. O’Connor before applying for Optometry School. “This passion grew even more after I was hired to work as a Vision Therapist at Dr. O’Connor’s and I began to see the kids lives change first hand! I remember the Moms saying Dr. O’Connor gave them answers they couldn’t find anywhere else. Their children weren’t stupid or lazy as many people had labeled them – they simply had a vision problem which could be helped. We can train the eye-brain connection to help the eyes function better as a team and to intake information more efficiently in order to be processed more effectively.

Dr. Alyssa is a proud graduate of SUNY Optometry class of 2020 where she:

• Presided as SUNY College of Vision Development (COVD) President 2018-2019 and ran workshops for other students.

Served Internships at:

• SUNY - Vision Rehabilitation & Head Trauma
• NYU Langone – Ocular Disease Hospital
• Buffalo VA – Primary Optometry
• Received the Excellence in Vision Therapy award in May 2020 due to her contributions to the patients and the clinic.