Studies of eye clinic records suggest that children with autism (ASD) and other special needs are prone to serious vision problems.

Journal of AAPOS, 2019

Recent publication of Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) showed among 2,555 children at a University of California Davis’ eye clinic that:

• 71% of children with ASD had a visual problem, of these:
  • 42% had significant refractive error
  • 32% had strabismus (eye turn)
  • 19% had amblyopia (lazy eye)

The most common vision problems experienced by children with ASD include strabismus (eye turn), in which the eyes are misaligned, and amblyopia (lazy eye), in which poor vision in one or both eyes results from issues in the early stages of visual development.

If your child has autism and you find they have vision problems, the Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that are experienced in treating children with autism.

SEE RELATED: Vision and Autism: Part 1

Autism and vision problems

Over 7 out 10 individuals with autism experience vision problems.

Visual symptoms of autism can include:

• Difficulty maintaining eye contact
• Fleeting peripheral glances
• Side viewing
• Staring at spinning objects or light
• Reduce visual attention span

People with autism often use visual information inefficiently.

Visual issues can include coordinating their peripheral and central vision, this is usually displayed by having difficulty or the inability to follow an object with their eyes.

These children tend to scan or look off to the side of an object, instead of looking directly at the object and might also have difficulty maintaining visual attention.

Crossed eyes, lazy eye and eye movement disorders are common in children on the autistic spectrum.

Poor integration of peripheral and central vision

Those with autism are found to ignore peripheral vision and remain fixated on a central point of focus for long periods of time.

When there is poor integration of peripheral and central vision it can lead to difficulties in integrating and processing visual information in individuals with autism. When visual processing is interrupted cognitive, speech, motor, and perceptual abilities can also be affected.

Hypersensitive vision

It is known that many people with autism are visually defensive.

Visually defensive people might have hypersensitive vision and avoid contact with specific visual inputs. They have a hard time visually “holding still” and frequently rely on a constant scanning of visual information.

Vision exams for people with autism

As every person’s eyes are different. The way a person’s eyes are evaluated will vary depending on their individual levels of physical and emotional development.

Evaluation of the visual skills are vital to understand the functioning of the eyes and visual system, to determine if vision therapy could provide significant benefit.

Specific testing of the visual system is often done while the patient performs specific activities while wearing special lenses. For example, observing a patient’s postural compensation and adaptations will be made as they walk, sit, stand, or catch and throw a ball.

These tests help to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the visual system  and determine the best way forward to improve the quality of life.

Treatment of visual problems

The results of the vision exam can help determine if specific optical lenses are needed to compensate for farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.

Vision therapy

Vision therapy is a successful process to help treat vision issues for those with autism and special needs. The activities in a vision therapy program can be used to stimulate general eye movements, visual arousal, and the central visual system.

The goal of vision therapy is to help autistic individuals to:

• gain peripheral stability
• gain more efficient eye coordination
• organize visual space
• attend to and appreciate central vision
• improve visual information processing

If your child has autism and you find they have vision problems, the Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that are experienced in treating children with autism.

LEARN MORE: Vision for Special Needs

If you think vision therapy will help your autistic child, contact an eye doctor near you to get your child’s eyes tested and to discuss the best treatment options to improve their quality of life.

The post 2021 Update: Autism (ASD) and Vision appeared first on Optometrists.org.

During a child’s early years it’s crucial to care for their eyes, which are rapidly growing and developing.

Diagnosing eye problems early can help minimize potential damage and makes treatment faster and more effective.

That’s why parents should know about the most common pediatric eye problems and their symptoms.

1. Refractive errors

The 3 most common refractive errors found in children are astigmatism (irregularly curved cornea), myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). These conditions prevent light from focusing on the correct part of the retina, causing blurred vision.

Signs to watch for:

• Frequent squinting or head tilting
• Headache or eye strain after a child performs visually demanding activities
• Holding books or digital screens very close to the face
• Sitting very close to the computer or television

2. Amblyopia

Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia occurs when one eye is weaker than the other and doesn’t achieve normal visual acuity or function.

Amblyopia is difficult to diagnose since the child relies on their ‘good’ eye and may be unaware of their problem.

Signs to watch for:

• Difficulty reading/doing math/playing sports
• Difficulty with attention and focus
• Frequently closing one eye
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Head tilting
• Squinting

If you notice any of these signs in your child, contact an eye doctor near you.

3. Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD)

BVD is caused by the two eyes not working together, due to a misalignment between the two eyes.

Signs to watch for:

• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Double vision
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Light sensitivity
• Motion sickness
• Stress

If you find that your child frequently suffers from any of the symptoms listed above, schedule an exam with an eye doctor that is trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating BVD.

4. Convergence insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency is a binocular vision condition that affects eye muscle coordination and near vision. It occurs when the eyes aren’t able to effectively work together to focus on a near object.

Signs to watch for:

• Attention and concentration difficulties
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Fatigue, especially when reading
• Headaches
• Homework avoidance
• Motion sickness or vertigo
• Reading below grade level
• Seeing words move or jump on the page

If you suspect your child has an eye condition, contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: What Is Myopia?

5. Nystagmus

Nystagmus is a congenital or acquired condition characterized by quick, involuntary back-and-forth eye movements. Congenital nystagmus appears in the first few months of life, while acquired nystagmus appears after 6 months.

Signs to watch for: Eyes that repetitively and rapidly move from side to side, up and down, or in a circle.

6. Pediatric cataracts

Adults aren’t the only ones affected by cataracts.

An estimated 20,000-40,000 children are born with cataracts each year worldwide.

Cataracts occur when the usually clear lens of one or both eyes becomes clouded. It’s possible that a cataract can impair vision, depending on its position and intensity.

Signs to watch for:

• Difficulty recognizing faces and seeing objects
• Eyes that point in different directions
• Gray or white-colored pupil
• Nystagmus

7. Strabismus 

Strabismus occurs when the eyes are turned, misaligned or “crossed.” If left untreated, it can lead to amblyopia and permanent vision loss.

An eye turn might be noticed soon after birth or even suddenly appear at about two years of age.

Signs to watch for:

• An eye that points inward, outward, upward or downward
• Excessive and frequent squinting, especially in bright light
• Head tilting, in an effort to align the eyes

Vision therapy can help

Vision therapy consists of personalized exercises aimed at developing visual skills so the eyes, visual system and brain are communicating correctly.

If your child is diagnosed with any of the above eye conditions, your eye doctor will likely recommend a personalized program of vision therapy.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Pediatric Eye Conditions

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam, and to discuss any questions you may have about treating your child’s eye condition.

Diagnosing eye problems in your child early can help minimize potential damage and allows treatment to be faster and more effective.

The post 7 Common Pediatric Eye Conditions  appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Once an adult starts to notice the results of vision therapy with their own eyes they realize how beneficial it can be for them, motivating them to improve even further.

What is vision therapy?

Vision therapy is a personalized program of a series of progressive therapeutic eye exercises that help patients improve their visual skills.

The improved visual skills are as a result of enhanced communication between their eyes and the brain. It is an individual and custom-designed treatment program, often used in conjunction with other treatments such as eyeglasses or eye surgery.

Is vision therapy effective for adults?

Many people mistakenly believe that vision therapy is just for children. However, vision therapy is just as effective for adults as it is for children.

Adults can succeed with vision therapy thanks to neuro-plasticity — the brain’s ability to modify, change, and adapt.

Thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain remains dynamic and flexible throughout life. Additionally, adults are usually highly motivated to improve their visual skills, giving them the energy and determination to push through any difficult obstacles and improve their office performance.

Vision therapy can treat a variety of vision conditions:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Convergence insufficiency (eye teaming)
• Strabismus (eye turn)

Lazy eye and vision therapy

Amblyopia, commonly known as a “lazy eye,” is a neuro-developmental vision condition. Lazy eye develops when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity, causing blurry vision in the affected eye, even with corrective eyewear. The condition also commonly presents with poor depth perception and reading difficulties.

Vision therapy has been shown to considerably improve lazy eye, even in Adults, by re-training the visual system.

Vision therapy for adults can be very effective, but tends to take longer to achieve optimum results. Ultimately, adults can often train their eyes to work together to achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.

Vision therapy programs may include treatment for:

• Accommodation (focusing)
• Pursuits (eye tracking)
• Fixation (visual gaze)
• Saccades (switching eye focus, “eye jumps”)
• Stereopsis (3-D vision)
• Spatial skills (eye-hand coordination)

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help improve your visual skills.

SEE RELATED: New Research for Adults with Lazy Eye

Convergence insufficiency and vision therapy

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a binocular vision condition that can affect adults.

Convergence insufficiency affects eye muscle and near vision coordination. Convergence of the eyes occurs when the two eyes need to focus on a close object, such as a book or computer. Convergence insufficiency means the eyes struggle to focus for near tasks like reading and writing, affecting attention to tasks and work performance`.

Vision therapy is the most effective treatment for CI, as standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications, and surgery cannot treat the condition.

In many cases, your eye doctor will prescribe prismatic (prism) glasses in combination with vision therapy, as they decrease some CI symptoms. Although prism eyeglasses can relieve symptoms, they are not a “cure” and the patient typically remains dependent on the prism lenses.

Vision therapy focuses on training the eyes to work together to improve depth perception, clear binocular vision and 3-D vision. The goal of vision therapy is to stimulate the communication between the eyes and brain, to enable clear and comfortable vision at all times.

Treatment exercises for CI may include:

• Depth perception practice
• Focusing for near and distance
• Eye tracking with pursuits and saccades
• Training with computerized technology
• Specialized equipment and tools such as prisms and lenses

Eye turns (strabismus) and vision therapy

Strabismus occurs when the two eyes are unable to focus together on one object and maintain proper alignment — one eye looks directly at the object, while the other eye points in a different direction. Strabismus does not go away on its own.

Vision therapy can a highly effective treatment for adults with eye turns and strabismus. 

A vision therapy program for strabismus can help improve:

• Binocular vision
• Eye alignment
• Eye focusing
• Eye teaming
• Eye movements
• Visual processing

A vision therapy program for strabismus may include therapeutic lenses, prisms and filters. Vision therapy involves ocular muscle training as well as training and development of the eye-brain connections required for clear and comfortable vision — resulting in a lasting cure.

A vision therapy program is sometimes recommended by your eye doctor after strabismus surgery in order to re-train the visual system. It is important to treat strabismus as early as possible, as the eye turn may be a result of a serious health issue.

LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Lazy Eye

 Schedule a vision therapy evaluation to discuss whether a vision therapy program is the appropriate treatment for you.

Vision therapy might just be the solution you have been looking for.

The post 2021 Update: Vision Therapy for Adults appeared first on Optometrists.org.

If you’re experiencing vision problems or it’s simply time for you to schedule your next eye examination, here are a few tips to get the most out of your eye exam with your friendly eye doctor.

The more information you can give your eye doctor during your checkup, the more they will be able to accurately assess your vision and eye health and discuss the many options available to you.

SEE RELATED: Are Dilated Eye Exams Important? 

Here are 4 quick tips to ensure better results when visiting your eye doctor.

1. Bring a list of symptoms

Any time you notice a change in your vision or other eye-related symptoms, jot them down, along with how long you’ve been experiencing them.

Symptoms to take note of include:

• Headaches
• Dry, itchy, or watery eyes
• Eye pain
• Flashes of light or floaters
• Blurry vision
• Distorted vision
• Poor depth perception
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty seeing objects up close

2. Bring a list of medications

Make a note of any medications you take – whether over-the-counter and prescription.

Whether you’re taking eye drops for glaucoma or prescription medication for high blood pressure, bring the name and dosage — or the medications themselves — to your next eye appointment.

This will give your eye doctor insights into your eye health and your overall health, and prevent the doctor from prescribing medication that could worsen a preexisting condition or  negatively interact with what you are already taking.

If you have any questions about the side effects of medications, don’t hesitate to ask your eye doctor.

3. Bring in all your eyeglasses and contacts lenses

Try to bring your prescription contact lenses or glasses to your appointment. This will allow the  eye doctor to assess your prescription and make adjustments if needed.

The doctor may ask you questions related to your eyewear to determine whether you need an update.

4. Know your family medical history

Knowing your family medical history is vitally important as many eye conditions have a genetic cause.

Many eye diseases and conditions run in families, so the more information you can provide about your family’s medical history, the better.

You don’t need to know every single family member’s detailed medical and history of eye conditions. Start with your close family — parents, grandparents, and siblings.

Some genetic eye conditions and diseases you should mention:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Color blindness
• Macular degeneration
• Strabismus
• Retinitis pigmentosa

Getting the most out of your next eye exam starts with preparation.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Exams

When you schedule your eye exam, you will be ready by following these tips.

The post What to Do Before an Eye Exam? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

This blog has been adapted from ‘The Sandwich Approach to Vision Therapy and Strabismus’, on The VisionHelpBlog, Dr Leornard Press OD FAAO FCOVD, Nov 2019

Imagine eating each of these separately: a leaf of lettuce, a few spicy pickles, a meat or vegetarian patty, a spoon of ketchup, a sesame bun and then two slices of cheese? …. Probably not great!

However, when you combine all of these items into a hamburger – together they become one of life’s most delicious treats … that’s the ‘sandwich’ effect!

What do sandwiches have to do with vision therapy?

Dr. Nancy Torgerson, together with the surgeon Dr. Thomas Lenart, reports that the term “sandwich approach” seems to be gaining traction for the combination of vision therapy and strabismus (eye turn) surgery are found to boost clinical outcomes in certain cases.

The ‘sandwich’ approach might consist of vision therapy before surgery to optimize sensory readiness for motor fusion, and/or after the surgery to stabilize or safeguard binocular vision.

To date there have been isolated case reports in the literature on using sandwich approaches of combining optometric vision therapy to provide a more optimized outcome of strabismus surgery.

As an example, Northwest Eye Surgeons posts on its website: “The goal of strabismus treatment is to improve eye alignment so that the eyes work together (binocular vision). Treatment addresses the underlying cause and may include eyeglasses, eye exercises, prism therapy, vision therapy and/or eye muscle surgery….”

How does vision therapy work?

Vision therapy works by teaching the brain to blend the information from the two eyes.

Many times, vision therapy can even align the eyes without surgery. 

In other cases, vision therapy is performed after surgery to help keep the eyes aligned and to further improve 3D vision, depth perception for sports, school, and driving.

In vision therapy programs various exercises are conducted to help the brain and eyes to improve eye coordination.

Strabismus affects not only how children and adults look, but see as well. Successful eye surgery along with vision therapy can help align eyes and create two-eyed depth perception for seeing the three-dimensional world.

A compendium from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists already notes the role of non-surgical exercises in the treatment of convergence insufficiency, distance esotropia and symptomatic phorias.

There are positive signs that eye doctors are appreciating the combination of vision therapy with strabismus surgery to deliver the optimum vision for patients … just one more ‘sandwich’ we can all enjoy!

The post Sandwiches and Vision Therapy? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

EyeCare Associates, CT

“Vision therapy has helped me ride my bike, and helps me for school in math, writing, and reading. I have gotten very good grades because of vision therapy”

Gavin N., age 8

Meet Gavin

Gavin is an energetic 8 year old who has a history of lazy eye (amblyopia) and hyperopia (far-sighted), which is greater in his left eye. When he first came to our clinic three years ago, he presented with farsightedness of +3.50 in his right eye and farsightedness of +5.50 in his left eye.

Due to the high farsightedness and significant difference between the optical prescriptions in his two eyes, the vision in his left eye was significantly worse than his right eye. Gavin was seeing 20/30 in his right eye and only 20/200 in his left eye.

Moreover, Gavin’s lazy eye impacted his reading and depth perception, which in turn, affected his confidence.

Gavin primarily wanted to  improve his vision in order  to improve his school grades and his ability to ride his favorite bike.

What did we do?

The first thing we did was reduce Gavin’s  glasses prescription. We also set up a schedule for him to complete a series of vision therapy sessions both in the office and at home. A customized computer program was also set up to help stimulate his eyes and reduce the amblyopia.

Gavin’s visual acuity improved over the first year. He continued to come for vision therapy to address and strengthen his eye movements, focusing, eye teaming and visual spatial skills— these difficulties are common in children with lazy eye and  were affecting his ability to read and learn.

Was vision therapy successful?

Yes! 

Today, Gavin’s visual acuity is 20/20 in the right eye and nearly 20/30 in the left eye, and his basic visual skills are excellent. 

Gavin’s eye tracking movements, focusing and eye teaming skills have greatly improved. His left eye is no longer suppressed, or shut down, and his stereoscopic depth perception is excellent. He is doing much better in school and even has learned to ride a bike.

What is amblyopia?

Amblyopia, or “lazy eye”, are the terms used for reduced eyesight in one eye that can not be corrected with glasses.

The lazy eye typically looks normal but functionally cannot see clearly. Amblyopia is the most common cause of reduced vision in one eye in children and adults, affecting over 2 percent of the population.

Many people have a mild form of amblyopia and are not even aware that they have the condition since the vision in their stronger eye is normal, and with both eyes open they can see.

One eye becomes amblyopic because the brain does not process information from that eye. The brain may not get a clear image from that eye or the images from the two eyes are conflicting and the brain ignores one of them.

If you suspect your child has any eye condition, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: Bifocals for Lazy Eye

What causes amblyopia?

• Refractive error: One eye has a much higher prescription compared to the other
• Strabismus: One eye turns in or out relative to the other
• Deprivation: One eye had a condition or injury early in life causing a vision obstruction or occlusion. This can occur from glaucoma, a corneal ulcer, congenital cataracts, or a drooping eyelid.

As a result of these amblyopic conditions, people with amblyopia typically have difficulties with binocular vision or eye teaming and visual processing skills. They also frequently experience the following:

• Poor focusing skills
• Poor depth perception
• Poor spatial relations
• Poor pattern recognition
• Low contrast sensitivity
• Low motion detection
• Poor visual acuity
• Visual crowding or confusion
• Poor eye hand coordination

What can be done to treat amblyopia?

• Early detection is key: A vision examination is recommended for all children by age three.
• Glasses: The proper prescription will allow for a clearer image to come into the eye and prevent the brain from ignoring the poor image.
• Vision therapy: Better than patching the good eye, vision therapy encourages the use of both eyes and is effective at any age, although the earlier the treatment begins, the better.

LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Lazy Eye

If you suspect that you or your child may have a lazy eye, schedule an appointment with an optometrist for a comprehensive eye and vision evaluation. 

The post Lazy Eye Success appeared first on Optometrists.org.

A lazy eye can develop when the neural connections between the affected eye and the brain are weakened, and the visual signals from that eye cannot be interpreted or processed efficiently.

As a result, the brain begins to actively ignore the visual information coming from the affected eye to avoid blurry or double vision (diplopia).  This is called suppression.

Binocular vision therapy is essential to teach the two eyes to work together and prevent suppression of the lazy eye.

If not treated effectively, suppression can lead to an eye turn (strabismus), and in some cases, unilateral vision loss.

Different methods of lazy eye treatment

1. Prescription eyewear

Amblyopia that develops from a significantly high refractive error may be corrected with optical lenses. These lenses help to correct the refractive error and provide the lazy eye with the best vision possible.

Studies indicate that while this type of passive treatment can improve visual acuity, it does not treat the underlying cause of the lazy eye.

Therefore, in most cases, a program of vision therapy is usually prescribed in combination with the corrective eyewear, to retrain the neural connections between the lazy eye and the brain.

2. Eye patching

Although eye patching for lazy eye has been common practice for the last 300 years, it is no longer the most effective treatment for lazy eye. 

Eye patching involves placing an eye patch over the stronger eye to actively encourage the lazy eye to work. This theory holds that through patching of the “good” eye, the brain will begin to acknowledge and interpret the visual input coming from the lazy eye, thereby recovering vision.

However, in many cases, patching has been linked to lazy eye regression, since patching alone cannot repair the visual system and neural connections— the underlying cause of lazy eye.

As a result, eye patching is usually prescribed in combination with a program of vision therapy.

If your child has been diagnosed with lazy eye, contact an eye doctor near you, who can discuss the best treatment options.

SEE RELATED: “Lazy Eyes” Are Not Lazy

3. Atropine eye drops

Similar to patching, atropine drops are applied to the stronger eye in order to blur vision and force the lazy eye to become stronger. Many parents prefer these drops over patching since they are less conspicuous than an eye patch. Though, these drops can cause stinging and blurry vision— which generally results in inadequate patient compliance.

Like patching however, atropine eye drops are typically prescribed along with a vision therapy program, as they too cannot fully treat the root of the condition.

4. Binocular vision therapy

Vision therapy targets the development and strengthening of the neural connections between the eyes and the brain, and encourages the two eyes to work together for clearer, more comfortable vision. 

A key component of vision therapy is the development of binocular vision.

Binocular vision is when the two eyes work as a team and the brain no longer needs to suppress the lazy eye.

Binocular vision can be noted when the child begins to see 3D images, and their depth perception and stereopsis improve.

Vision therapy can improve binocular vision, visual processing, reading fluency, depth perception, and eye-hand coordination.

Numerous research studies on the efficacy of vision therapy have shown that the improvements made during vision therapy are maintained only when the two eyes are trained to work together (stereopsis)— facilitating a deeper neurological connection between the two eyes and the brain.

How does vision therapy work?

Vision therapy has shown to be the most effective treatment for lazy eye as it gets to the root of the problem and strengthens the neural connections necessary for efficient eye-brain communication.

Each vision therapy program is customized to the individual needs of the patient, and can include the use of optical lenses, prisms, filters, occluders, and other specialized equipment designed to actively encourage the lazy eye to work.

Research shows that in order to obtain optimal treatment results, each vision therapy program should consist of office-based treatment one to two times per week, and daily home practice to support the skills learned.

A vision therapy program to treat lazy eye may include:

• Accommodation (focusing)
• Fixation (visual gaze)
• Saccades (eye jumps)
• Pursuits (eye tracking)
• Spatial skills (eye-hand coordination)
• Binocular vision (the eyes working together)
• Stereopsis (3-D vision)

If you think your child may have a lazy eye, schedule an eye exam as soon as possible. 

Binocular vision is essential for academic and athletic success, as well as the successful performance of many daily routine tasks.

LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Lazy Eyes

Speak with your eye doctor about beginning a program of vision therapy to treat your child’s lazy eye and give them the visual skills they need for all aspects of life. 

The post Lazy Eyes Need Binocular Vision Therapy  appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Lazy eye (amblyopia) is the most common neuro-developmental vision condition, affecting up to three percent of the population.

A lazy eye develops when a disconnect between the affected eye and the brain prevents the brain from recognizing all visual input from that eye.

This causes a reaction in the brain, called suppression.

Suppression occurs when the brain actively ignores all of the visual information coming from the affected eye to avoid blurry or double vision (diplopia).  If not treated effectively, suppression can lead to an eye turn, also known as strabismus.

The presence of a lazy eye leads the brain to depend on the stronger eye, thereby causing a further weakening of the lazy eye, overtime.

This is where the lazy eye gets its name— the affected eye is called “lazy” because the stronger eye works more efficiently.

If you suspect your child has lazy eye, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: Lazy Eye: The Latest Research

What are the consequences of a lazy eye?

When a lazy eye develops, it can no longer achieve normal visual acuity, even with corrective eyewear.

Lazy eye causes impaired binocular vision, depth perception, and eye-hand coordination—  and can consequently lead to reading, learning and athletic difficulties.

Lazy eye typically presents before the age of eight, but may also develop later on as a result of:

• Strabismus
• Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
• High optical prescription
• Significant difference between the optical prescriptions in both eyes

Signs that your child may have a lazy eye

A lazy eye can be difficult to recognize because it generally develops in only one eye, without a noticeable eye turn.  

Therefore, it is important to be aware of the signs that may indicate a lazy eye, because it can significantly affect a child’s quality of life.

The most common signs of lazy eye include:

• Frequently squints, rubs, or closes one eye
• Turns head to one side
• Reading difficulties
• Math difficulties
• Sports performance difficulties
• Accident prone
• Reduced fine motor skills
• Attention difficulties

If your child has a lazy eye, vision therapy is the most effective way to strengthen the affected eye.

LEARN MORE: Vision Therapy for Lazy Eye

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam of lazy eye, and to discuss any questions you may have about vision therapy.

Vision therapy can strengthen the eye-brain connections to improve the visual skills necessary for clear and comfortable binocular vision.

The post “Lazy Eyes” Are Not Lazy appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Many children who suffer from reduced functional vision, or problems with their visual skills, struggle with their academic and athletic success. As a result, these children are often mislabeled as clumsy, lazy, or learning disabled— stigmas that can significantly impact a child’s confidence.

Fortunately, by strengthening the visual skills, many of these children can gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed in school and on the sports field.

What is vision therapy? 

Vision therapy is a personalized program that helps to develop and strengthen the neural connections between the eyes and brain to improve the visual skills and processing of visual information.

A vision therapy program may also include specific lenses, prisms and computer-based games to help strengthen the eye-brain connections.

Vision therapy is an effective treatment for the following vision conditions:

• Convergence insufficiency
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (eye turns) 
• Impaired binocular vision
• Focusing/accommodative disorders
• Visual processing difficulties
• Eye movement difficulties

How can vision therapy boost your child’s confidence?

If your child has been struggling in school or on the sports field as a result of a visual impairment, they may feel angry, frustrated, or self conscious, and maybe even lack the confidence to participate in classroom discussions or social activities.

With vision therapy, your child can gain the visual skills necessary for academic and athletic success— which will in turn, help to boost their confidence.

If your child is struggling in school or showing signs of reduced self esteem, schedule a comprehensive vision evaluation to assess their vision and visual skills.

Vision therapy can help your child achieve the visual skills they need to boost their confidence and increase their chances of success.

The post Vision Therapy Builds Confidence  appeared first on Optometrists.org.

The information on this page includes everything you need to know about what makes these therapies similar, as well as how they are different.

Vision therapy is a treatment program that develops and strengthens the neural connections between the eyes and the brain, and enhances the performance of the visual skills.

Vision therapy is actually an outgrowth of orthoptics, which was introduced in the late 1800’s. However, while orthoptics focuses on the treatment of vision conditions related to eye coordination difficulties, vision therapy focuses on the treatment of a wider range of vision conditions.

A closer look at orthoptic therapy

Orthoptics by definition, is the straightening of the eyes. It is generally used to improve binocular vision affected by an eye turn (strabismus) or a lazy eye (amblyopia).

The main goal of orthoptic therapy is to strengthen the eye muscles and improve eye alignment. This type of therapy is limited to activities that focus on strengthening eye coordination, also known as binocular function.

A closer look at vision therapy

Vision therapy is a personalized treatment program designed to improve the visual skills by strengthening the connections between the eyes and the brain.

Vision therapy has been shown to effectively treat the following conditions:

• Convergence insufficiency
• Amblyopia  (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (crossed-eyes)
• Double vision
• Eye fatigue
• Impaired eye teaming and eye tracking
• Impaired eye focusing
• Poor depth perception and 3D vision
• Poor eye-hand coordination
• Difficulties with visual perception and processing

Vision therapy has been shown to improve the following symptoms and behaviors:

• Headaches or fatigue after reading
• Double vision
• Lazy eye or eye turns
• Dizziness or motion sickness
• Poor hand-eye coordination
• Constant squinting/head tilting
• Using finger pointing when reading
• Poor posture when reading or writing
• Tendency to cover or close one eye
• Favoring the vision in one eye
• Difficulty following a moving target

While vision therapy may involve some degree of orthoptics, this is just one aspect of a vision therapy program.

The activities incorporated into a vision therapy program target the brain’s ability to coordinate eye movements and improve the processing of visual information.

SEE RELATED: Guide to Vision Therapy

Contact an eye doctor near you that can conduct eye exams to detect any underlying visual problems.

Who can benefit from vision therapy?

Parents and teachers should be on the lookout for the following red flags that may indicate a vision problem:

• Reading below grade level
• Reduced reading comprehension
• Loss of place, repetition, and / or omission of words while reading
• Confusing similar words, such as ‘was’ and ‘saw’
• Reversing letters such as b, d, p and q
• Spelling difficulties
• Dislikes or avoids homework
• Writing numbers backwards, such as 2 & 5 or 6 & 9
• Difficulty maintaining attention
• Difficulty changing focus from distance to near and back again
• Poor judgment of depth
• Messy handwriting

Vision therapy also makes use of optical lenses, prisms, filters, occluders and other specialized equipment aimed at developing the visual skills and strengthening the visual system.

In recent years, optometrists have included advanced technologies and computer-based games into their vision therapy programs, to make traditional vision therapy exercises even more fun and engaging.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy

To learn more about vision therapy and find out if vision therapy can help you, schedule an appointment with a developmental optometrist near you.

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