What is VT?

The first step is a thorough visual skills evaluation with Dr. Pruszenski to determine if vision therapy is the best course of care.  Having had extensive experience treating patients of all ages, she easily makes her younger patients comfortable during this exam.

Next, she'll prescribe an individualized program of vision therapy that train your eyes to work together, track, perceive and focus properly.  Strengthening these basic visual skills can really change the way you see, allowing you to enjoy activities, such as reading, that may have been difficult before.

Research has shown that vision therapy can be instrumental in helping increase visual attention spans for children learning to read.  Often, children who had been falling behind in reading are able to improve their performance greatly by reducing the effects of their vision problems.  Vision therapy truly allows kids to enjoy learning and become more confident, happier people.

Just as a physical therapist might use treadmills or weights, a vision therapist utilizes prisms, eye patches, filtered lenses, trampolines, pitch-backs and computerized systems to conduct therapy sessions. In our office, we also use many interactive computer programs that our patients enjoy and that contribute to long-lasting success.

The number of office visits required depends on the diagnosis and the age of the patient. Vision therapy programs typically involve one to two in-office sessions throughout the week, for a varying number of months depending on need.  Home exercises are a vital part of the vision therapy program and are performed to reinforce the new techniques learned during the office-based vision therapy - similar to learning a new lesson on the piano or a better baseball swing.  Practice in between training sessions makes all the difference!

There are a number of programs of "eye exercises" and techniques for improving vision that are not associated with Vision Therapy, such as colored lenses or other programs advertised to quickly improve eyesight.

Likewise, education therapy and vision therapy are not to be confused.  We do not treat learning problems directly.  We treat vision problems that are contributing to the child's difficulties with reading and learning. Once this type of vision problem is treated, we may refer a patient to a tutor to help as needed.

Vision Therapy is carefully monitored by a licensed optometrist, and is supported by the American Optometric Association as a clinical treatment for certain visual deficits. 

Optometric Vision Therapy has helped many children who were struggling academically, individuals with eye turns and those with traumatic brain injuries.  Vision Therapy will continue to change lives thanks to the research conducted by dedicated individuals within this specialized field.

We have composed a list of research links for you:

• Archives of Ophthalmology:  Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Study (CITT Study)

College of Optometrists in Vision Development

• Optometry & Vision Development Journal Archive
• Research update on Visually-Based Reading Disability (PDF)
• A Summary of Research and Clinical Studies on Vision and Learning (PDF)

Research on Vision Disorders that Occur as a result of Head Injuries

• Vision Related Literature on Acquired Brain Injury (PDF)

White papers:

• The Distinction Between Vision Therapy and Orthoptics
• School Vision Screenings
• Vision Skills
• Strabismus and Amblyopia
• Myopia (Nearsightedness)
• Reversals
• Vision and Learning
• Vision and Dyslexia
• Bifocals for Children
• What is Optometric Vision Therapy?
• Vision and Autism
• Referral Protocol-Ethics
• Vision Based Learning Problems: The Role of the Optometrist on the Multidiciplinary Team

Position Papers:

• VISION: A COLLABORATION OF EYES AND BRAIN (PDF)
• VISION, LEARNING AND DYSLEXIA
• VISION THERAPY Information for Health Care and Other Allied Professionals
• OPTOMETRIC CARE OF THE PATIENT WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY

For more information visit www.covd.org.