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Home > Eye Conditions & Diseases > Archive by category 'Vision Therapy'

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Canadian Association of Optometrists Dr Carol Doman Dr Henry Smit Dr Joan Hansen Dr Langis Michaud Dr. Sally Aldayeh Dr. Sonja Gascoyne Dr. Virginia Donati

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    • Vision Therapy

    What is a vision therapy?

    Vision therapy is an individualized treatment program prescribed to improve conditions like crossed-eyes (strabismus) or lazy eye (amblyopia) and to help you learn, relearn or reinforce specific vision skills. Such skills include eye movement control, focusing control, eye coordination and teamwork of the two eyes.

    How does vision therapy work?

    Like many of our skills, visual skills are developed. Since they are developed, they can generally be improved via proper therapy. In vision therapy, the optometrist prescribes individually appropriate visual tasks / exercises to be practised regularly. Repetition of these tasks enhances vision by coordinating, strengthening and improving eye movement, focusing ability and by straightening the eye alignment.

    How successful is vision therapy?

    Vision therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for many problems that cannot be treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses alone. It can help people see more clearly, efficiently and comfortably. Success, however, is not guaranteed. Much of the improvement depends on the patient’s willingness to follow the optometrist’s instructions. For patients who do so, significant progress toward more efficient and comfortable vision usually results.

    What are some vision therapy procedures?

    In addition to the use of lenses, prisms and filters, there are many different procedures that can be used in vision therapy. Some, using stereo-viewers or video games, may seem like child’s play. More sophisticated equipment and instrument are also used to increase the eye’s ability to see and the brain’s ability to understand the visual information.

    How long does vision therapy take?

    The length of time required for completion of vision therapy program, including the number of visits per week, the length of each visit and the amount of out-of-office therapy, varies. This is dependent upon the type of vision problem(s), how long the condition has existed, the motivation of the patient and the level of improvement desired. A typical program may take from a few weeks to several months.

    How will vision therapy affect my lifestyle?

    Depending upon your vision condition, therapy can have a profound effect on your lifestyle. By undergoing vision therapy, you may find yourself looking at life in a whole new way. Your Doctor of Optometry can provide you with more specific information about how vision therapy can help improve your vision.

    Dr Henry Smit

    Re: Convergence Insufficiency

    Posted on August 5, 2011, 11:31 am by Dr Henry Smit
    Posted in Convergence Insufficiency, Vision Therapy

    Carola wrote:

    Hello, My 8 year-old son was recently diagnosed with "convergence insufficiency". He

    Can you recommend a provider of vision therapy in Montreal? Thanks.

    Dr Henry Smit's response:

    Dear Carola:
    I forwarded your question to a colleague in Montreal, and he offered the following names. Dr. Carole Melancon, 379,boul.Laurier,St-Hilaire,J3H 3P1 450-467-8543 Dr. Johanne Murphy 1775,Pierre Péladeau,Laval,H7T 2Y5 450-687-4233 Dr. Jean-Pierre Lagacé 851,boul. de Maisonneuve est,Montréal,H2L-1Y8 514 -527-8039
    Best of luck with your son’s therapy. Dr. Smit

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    Posted on August 4, 2010, 12:24 pm by Dr. Virginia Donati
    Posted in Children’s Vision, Vision Therapy

    We are currently investigating reading problems our 8 year-old son has. A speechtherapist has recommended we do a Visual Perception development test (?). How do we find an optopmetrist in the Ottawa region who conducts this type of test? wrote:

    We are currently investigating reading problems our 8 year-old son has. A speechtherapist has recommended we do a Visual Perception development test (?). How do we find an optopmetrist in the Ottawa region who conducts this type of test?

    Does the test need to be done in French if that is the primary language of the child? Thank you for your help!

    Dr. Virginia Donati's response:

    Hello Genevieve, Firstly, I would like to applaud your son’s speech therapist for recognizing the need for a visual perception test. Visual Perception Testing is a battery of tests which examines the ways in which the eyes communicate with the brain and can provide incredible insight into learning/reading difficulties in children. It is important that your son first have a routine eye exam so that the results of the eye exam are no more than one year old (6 months is preferable). The optometrist who does the perception test can also perform the eye exam, or ask your family optometrist to send a report including a recent binocular vision assessment. Many of the tests are language-independent. There are some, however, that would be difficult if your son has trouble speaking English. If your son is fluent in English, then it should be fine. To find an optometrist in your area who performs visual perception testing, contact either the College of Optometrists of Ontario (www.collegeoptom.on.ca) or the Ontario Association of Optometrists (www.optom.on.ca). Good luck! Dr. Donati

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