What is Vision Therapy and How Can It Help You?

What is Vision Therapy and How Can It Help You?

Vision therapy is a non-invasive, highly effective treatment designed to improve the way the brain communicates with the eyes. While most people associate vision with simply having clear eyesight, our visual system is much more complex. It involves the brain, eyes, and muscles working together to interpret and process what we see. For some individuals, issues with this visual system can lead to difficulties that aren’t always solved by glasses or contact lenses. This is where vision therapy comes in.

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is a customized program of exercises and activities tailored to an individual’s specific vision challenges. It is often prescribed for patients whose visual problems cannot be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery alone. The therapy is guided by an eye care professional, typically a developmental or behavioral optometrist, and focuses on strengthening the connection between the eyes and the brain.

The therapy involves a range of exercises designed to train the brain to better control and coordinate eye movements, improve focusing abilities, and enhance visual processing. These exercises are typically done in-office under the guidance of a specialist, with supplemental activities to be completed at home.

Common Conditions Vision Therapy Can Help Treat

Vision therapy can be highly beneficial for individuals of all ages, especially children and adults who experience the following conditions:

•       Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) – A condition where one eye has reduced vision because the brain favors the other eye. Vision therapy can help strengthen the weaker eye and restore balance between both eyes.

•       Strabismus (Crossed Eyes) – This condition occurs when the eyes do not align properly. Vision therapy helps teach the brain to properly coordinate the eye muscles, improving alignment without the need for surgery in many cases.

•       Convergence Insufficiency – This is a common condition where the eyes have difficulty working together when focusing on close objects, which can cause eye strain, headaches, or difficulty reading. Vision therapy can help improve the ability of the eyes to converge and focus correctly.

•       Learning-related Vision Problems – Many children with undiagnosed vision issues struggle in school. Vision therapy can help address issues such as difficulty with tracking words while reading, poor hand-eye coordination, and problems with visual memory, all of which can impact academic performance.

•       Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – Individuals who have suffered a concussion or other head injury often experience visual disturbances. Vision therapy can aid in retraining the brain and eyes to work together, reducing symptoms such as double vision, light sensitivity, and trouble focusing.

How Vision Therapy Can Help You

Vision therapy can significantly improve quality of life by addressing underlying visual problems that impact daily activities. Here’s how it may help:

•          Enhanced Reading and Learning Skills: For children or adults with learning-related vision problems, vision therapy can improve reading speed, comprehension, and concentration by improving the way the eyes work together.

•          Improved Sports Performance: Athletes who undergo vision therapy often see enhancements in hand-eye coordination, peripheral vision, and reaction times, which are essential for success in many sports.

•          Better Visual Comfort: If you experience eye strain, headaches, or fatigue during tasks such as reading or working on a computer, vision therapy may help alleviate these symptoms by improving how your visual system functions.

•          Restored Visual Function after Injury: For individuals recovering from a brain injury, vision therapy can aid in restoring clear, comfortable vision and reducing symptoms such as dizziness, balance problems, and blurry vision.

Get Started with Ciotti Eye Care Today

Vision therapy offers a customized, drug-free approach to improving various vision conditions that go beyond needing corrective lenses. Whether you're dealing with a long-standing visual issue or recovering from an injury, vision therapy may be the key to improving your visual function and overall quality of life. If you believe you or your child could benefit from vision therapy, Ciotti Eye Care is here to help.

Contact Ciotti Eye Care to schedule a consultation and learn more about how vision therapy can enhance your vision. Visit our office in Riverview, Florida, or call (813) 212-7400 to book an appointment today.