Blog | Vision & Learning Center

How Head Trauma Can Affect Vision

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:25:13 GMT

Head trauma is a serious and often life-altering injury that can result from various accidents, falls, or sports-related incidents. While the immediate consequences of head injuries are well-known, such as concussions or brain damage, the long-term effects on vision are often overlooked. According to the CDC, it's estimated that in the United States, 12 million people 40 or over have vision impairment or vision disorders, with one million being blind, and an estimated eight million who have impairment due to refractive errors that are not corrected. Here are a few of the ways that head trauma can affect your vision.

Visual Field Deficits

One of the most common visual consequences of head trauma is visual field deficits. The visual field is the entire area that we can see without moving our eyes. A head injury can damage specific areas of the brain responsible for processing visual information, leading to blind spots or reduced peripheral vision. This can impair a person's ability to navigate their surroundings, drive safely, or even recognize faces. To learn more about how significantly your vision may have been affected, schedule an evaluation with a medical professional as soon as possible.

Double Vision and Eye Teaming Problems

Head trauma can also affect the coordination between the eyes, leading to vision disorders that include double vision, also known as diplopia, or eye teaming problems known as strabismus. The brain relies on precise communication between the two eyes to create a single, coherent image. Damage to the brain can disrupt this process, causing the eyes to point in different directions and resulting in double vision. Such visual disturbances can significantly impact a person's daily activities and may require specialized vision therapy for rehabilitation. If you or a loved one are suffering from issues such as these, schedule an appointment with a local eye care facility that offers vision therapy appointments.

Visual Processing Difficulties

Visual processing involves the brain's ability to interpret and make sense of the visual information received from the eyes. Head trauma can disrupt these complex processes, making it challenging to recognize objects, read, or comprehend visual stimuli. Patients may experience difficulties with visual memory, visual-motor integration, and visual attention, affecting their academic or professional performance. Schedule an appointment at a vision center that guarantees one-on-one care so you can get the attentive care you need.

Head trauma's impact on vision cannot be understated. From visual field deficits and eye teaming problems to visual processing difficulties and light sensitivity, the consequences can be far-reaching. If you or someone you know has experienced head trauma, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention and consider consulting a vision specialist. If you've sustained head trauma that has affected your vision, contact Vision and Learning Center today!

3 Ways Vision Therapy May Help With ADHD

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:23:29 GMT

As you likely know, ADHD can be a frustrating disorder to deal with on several levels. Support is critical for both children with ADHD and newly-diagnosed adults alike. According to the National Center for Vision and Eye Health, almost 7% of children under the age of 18 have some sort of vision problem. The link between vision problems and ADHD has been made by doctors that study ADHD, meaning vision therapy may be able to help with ADHD symptoms. Here are three ways vision therapy can provide ADHD support for struggling patients.

1. Vision Therapy Can Improve Eye Function

When your eyes aren't working properly, it can be very difficult to absorb information. In general, we can all agree that it's also hard to pay attention to information that you can't see. Vision problems can lead to attention, concentration, and cognitive function problems that impact all aspects of daily life. Our services utilize prisms and filters to help train your child's vision. Better vision means better sensory input.

2. Vision Therapy Can Help With Comprehension

For a person with ADHD to pay attention and stay focused, they have to be able to comprehend the cues that are being presented. Vision therapy can help to improve visual function and thereby help to improve the recognition of cues. Being able to recognize cues is the first step in comprehending what someone is asking of you or teaching you. Vision therapy can help someone with ADHD better comprehend the world around them.

3. Vision Therapy Can Help Improve Visual Memory

Learning is a complex process, and part of that process utilizes visual input. We use a combination of senses to store information, and when that information is distorted, it can wreak havoc on our short-term memory. When the eyes are not functioning as they should, it can be difficult to form visual memories. Vision therapy can help to strengthen visual memory recall.

Vision therapy services may not be a cure for ADHD, but they can provide ADHD support to lessen symptoms and improve the condition. Are you interested in learning more about our vision services? Give us a call today at Vision & Learning Center to get started! Our expert team would be more than happy to talk more about how vision therapy is being used for ADHD patients.

3 Common Eye Problems in Young Patients

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:56:17 GMT

From birth through their teenage years, young people may experience a range of eye problems that can impact their overall quality of life. According to the CDC, almost 3% of the U.S. population under 18 has trouble seeing even with corrective lenses, which makes them either visually impaired or blind. Nearly 6.8% have been diagnosed with an eye and a vision condition. As such, it's important to ensure that every young person out there gets the vision support they need to lead healthy, productive lives. In this article, we've put together three of the most common eye problems present in young patients.

1. Convergence Insufficiency

If a patient suffers from convergence insufficiency, it means that their eyes struggle with near sight and eye muscle control. Symptoms of this condition include headaches, blurred vision, difficulty with sports and reading, and so on. While living with convergence insufficiency can be challenging, this condition is highly treatable. At the Vision Learning Center, we provide interactive exercises with vision assessments. These activities combine play with vision training to help our patients have fun while improving their condition.

2. Strabismus or Eye Turn

The condition is known as strabismus when the eyes are misaligned and don't point in the same direction. It can cause double vision, depth perception issues, and even amblyopia. Treatment may include prism lenses and vision therapy exercises. Depending on the severity, surgery may be required to fully heal the condition.

3. Refractive Errors

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are common among young people and can all cause blurred vision. A child with refractive errors will have difficulty seeing objects at certain distances. The condition can be caused by abnormal eyeball anatomy issues that prevent light from refracting to create proper images. Corrective lenses can help improve vision without the need for invasive surgeries.

As you can see, young patients can experience a range of eye problems that can impact their daily lives. Early detection and seeking out a vision therapy service are crucial in preventing permanent vision loss. Parents should make sure their children have regular eye exams and seek out a reputable vision therapy service if they notice any signs of vision problems. Early detection can help correct or prevent further vision loss in young patients. If you're looking for a reliable source of vision therapy services, reach out to us at Vision & Learning Center today. We'd be happy to help!

4 Lifestyle Tips to Better Care for Your Eyesight

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 14:33:09 GMT

Taking care of your eyes can help preserve your vision and minimize your need for vision therapy. However, not everybody knows how effective a few simple lifestyle changes can be for maintaining good eyesight. Thankfully, the following tips can help you protect your eyes and minimize your risk of serious and long-term vision problems.

1. Get Regular Eye Exams

Too few people get regular eye exams and miss out on the chance to improve their vision. According to The National Eye Institute, a simple refractive correction could help 150 million Americans improve their sight. Getting regular checkups with your optometrist can help gauge whether this approach is right for you and help you identify an effective care method.

2. Stop Bad Habits

Smoking is one of the most damaging things that you can do to your body. It can severely damage your eyes and can even cause blindness, cataracts, and glaucoma. Drinking alcohol is also devastating to the eyes and can cause similar side effects. As a result, it's important to cut back or eliminate these habits in your life to ensure that your vision is as protected as possible from common damage.

3. Protect Your Eyes

Every time you step outside on a sunny day, you're putting your eyes at risk. UV rays can cause cataracts, eye cancer, and macular degeneration. Avoid UV beds whenever possible and wear protective sunglasses and large hats when outdoors in the summer. Doing so can keep harmful UV rays from impacting your eyes and causing damage that may be impossible to reverse with vision therapy .

4. Live a Healthy Life

Nutrition, diet, and weight can all impact your vision in various ways. Try to eat healthier foods, such as green and leafy vegetables, coldwater fish, oranges, and carrots to provide your body with carotenoids, vitamins C and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Stay active with 150 minutes of activity a week and maintain a healthy weight to further help your eyesight.

Utilize these tips and work with a vision therapy expert to ensure that you keep your eyes strong and healthy. Contact the Vision & Learning Center to get your eyes regularly checked and get treatment for any problems that may be affecting you. This step can help you gauge any potential vision problems devastating your eyes and help you decrease your vision loss or even improve your sight. We're here to help you!

The 4 Common Types of Refractive Errors

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 13:50:38 GMT

If you wear glasses or contacts to correct your vision, that means you have some kind of refractive error. According to the Centers for Disease Control, refractive errors are the most commonly occurring eye problems in the US. Not everyone who has a refractive error knows the specific vision disorder they have. Below are the four common types of refractive errors that a person can have.

1. Nearsightedness

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when the eyeball is too long from front to back or the cornea or lens is shaped incorrectly. When a person sees, light is supposed to focus directly on the retina, but these problems cause the light to focus in front of the retina instead. As a result, people who are nearsighted will see faraway objects as blurry if their vision is left uncorrected.

2. Farsightedness

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is effectively the opposite of nearsightedness. This problem occurs when the eyeball is too short from front to back or the cornea or lens is shaped incorrectly, causing light to focus behind the retina. People who are farsighted may be able to see objects that are far away, but anything that is too close up will appear blurry.

3. Astigmatism

Another refractive error is astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs as the result of the cornea or lens having an unusual shape. This causes light to bend in an odd way as it enters the eye, making it difficult to see clearly. Astigmatism is often related to other refractive errors such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.

4. Presbyopia

The last error is presbyopia, which is a condition that comes with age. When a person is approximately 45 or older, the lenses of their eyes harden and become less flexible, preventing light from focusing properly on the retina. This makes it difficult to see things up close. Presbyopia is a natural part of aging that will inevitably happen to anyone once they reach a certain point in life.

If you've noticed that you have difficulty seeing properly, you may have one or more of the above refractive errors or a different vision disorder. You may be able to benefit from the vision therapy services at the Vision and Learning Center. Schedule a free virtual consultation with one of our vision therapists today to learn more about how we can help you see the world around you more easily and enjoy a better quality of life.

3 Essential Vision Services for Diabetics

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:37:42 GMT

Diabetes is a disease with many different side effects. Everyone's body has a different response to diabetes, and it can be difficult to predict exactly how your body will respond to the disease or treatment. However, even when diabetes is treated effectively, some patients don't receive proper diagnoses and treatments until they have already experienced some degree of blindness. Fortunately, there are vision services available for those who've experienced this problem. Let's look into some of the most essential recommendations for eye health below.

1. Get Specialized Eye Exams

While there are basic eye exams available for those worried about their vision, additional steps should be taken to assist patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. In fact, some diabetics experience total blindness over time, especially if the disease is not properly addressed. A diabetes diagnosis does not necessarily mean that you'll experience blindness. According to the Centers for Disease Control, blindness caused by diabetes is preventable in 90% of all cases. This side effect of diabetes is why it's so important for patients to have regular appointments with their optometrists.

Usually, an eye exam will involve the dilation of the pupils. It's recommended that diabetic patients have a digital retinal exam, as well. The doctor will use retinal imaging to take a digital photo of the back of your eye. They'll get a clear picture of the retina, the optical disk, and blood vessels, which will help them determine the extent of the issues with your vision. Generally, digital retinal exams are recommended among standard vision services today.

2. Control Your Blood Sugar

Often, those providing vision services for diabetes patients help guide them to bettering their health in general, which will aid them in preventing further degeneration. Patients should control their blood sugar levels (which can help prevent retinopathy), manage their high blood pressure, and quit smoking if necessary. Regular exercise and a healthy diet will help diabetic patients maintain their eyesight over time. Always consult your doctor before making any drastic changes to your lifestyle.

3. Wear Sunglasses

If you're already experiencing vision issues or have been diagnosed with diabetes, begin wearing sunglasses. When your eyes are exposed to direct sunlight, they're at greater risk for cataracts and macular degeneration. If you're also dealing with diabetes, this risk will become even greater. Consider wearing sunglasses whenever you step into the sunlight.

Maintaining visual health after you've been diagnosed with diabetes can be intimidating, but it's easy with the right doctor. Call us at the Vision and Learning Center. We'll be happy to talk to you about vision maintenance today!

5 Things Parents Need to Know About Vision and Learning

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 12:17:51 GMT

Sight is one of the key senses that children use to grow. According to the CDC, vision disability is one of the top 10 disabilities affecting adults 18 years and older. It's also one of the most common disabling conditions among children. The sad truth is that some parents don't always know how vision disability can affect the learning process, which can result in children not getting the help they need. To avoid such a scenario, here's what all parents need to know about vision and learning.

1. Strong Vision Is Critical In Young Children

It's essential for parents to realize the importance of good vision in children and how it can set the stage for success later on in life. Remember, having reliable vision is part of having good health, and from the moment a child is born, how they see the world will have a strong influence on their development. Therefore, it is important to realize that parents have an important role to play when it comes to their children's vision management. If parents ignore this important detail in their child's growth, it can have costly long-term effects. The main issues that arise with poor vision management in children are poor performance in school and hindered development.

2. Vision Effects Development From Birth

According to the American Optometric Association, it's normal for a child's eye color to change as they develop past the age of two. The normal development of infants and toddlers regarding vision can be quite wonderful. Typically, babies are able to track objects by six months, and their eyes will be able to coordinate as their color vision improves. By the time they reach two years old, their depth perception and hand-eye coordination should have improved significantly. It is important to seek medical expertise if you don't see any progress in your child's coordination.

3. Ignored Vision Disabilities Can Affect Learning

Vision and learning are closely related, so if a child has a vision disability, it might seem like they have a learning disorder as well. However, when a child has a visual disorder, such as difficulty seeing the blackboard, it's easy to trace the root of the problem and formulate a solution. There are various vision disabilities that can make learning more difficult, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Still, there are common vision problems that have the potential to affect learning performance. Therefore, it is critical to be quick and responsive if a child is struggling with a vision disability.

4. There Are Many Signs to Watch Out For

As a parent, you may be able to tell if something is wrong with your child's vision by observing them. Your toddler may have trouble locating tiny objects on the floor or fail to point out fascinating items from a greater distance, such as an airplane flying by. You may also notice behaviors such as rubbing the eyes or blinking excessively. These can all be potential signs that there's something wrong with your child's vision development. The issue could be anything from cataracts and wandering eyes to blurry vision or lazy eyes. In any case, it's important to keep an eye out for any behavioral clues that indicate your child needs help with their vision.

5. You Should Have Your Child's Eyes Checked

Parents need to ensure that their child's vision is checked even when they don't suspect anything to be wrong with it. It is recommended that parents consider vision exams to be the norm and not an option. This is because of the significant impact that vision has on academic performance. In addition, most vision problems can not be diagnosed at home. The only way to know for certain that your child has a vision disability is to have their vision checked by a qualified health professional. The best time to have your child's vision checked is by the age of 12 months. After that, it's a good idea to have your child's vision checked periodically during their school years.

These are five of the pertinent details that parents need to know when it comes to vision and learning in children. If you suspect that your child has a learning disorder related to their vision, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Also, contact us at Vision and Learning Center today if you have any questions about child vision and learning.

Debunking 5 Myths About Vision Therapy Services

Thu, 19 May 2022 13:18:56 GMT

Vision therapy myths may appear innocuous at first. However, if they're misinterpreted or mixed up with scientific facts, they can be dangerous. Unfortunately, many misunderstandings prevent people from pursuing vision therapy--a personalized program that teaches the eyes and brain to collaborate more quickly and effectively. According to the CDC, refractive errors are the most frequent eye problems in the United States. Some common myths about vision therapy are debunked below.

Vision Therapy is Only for Kids

Although vision therapy is usually offered to younger patients, many adults have benefited from a specialized vision therapy program. Neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to alter and adopt new habits — is at the heart of vision therapy. Vision therapy may be beneficial at any age, since your brain is capable of building new neural connections throughout your life.

Vision Therapy is Not Supported by Scientific Evidence

The National Eye Institute has financed and published a lot of scientific research that shows the value of vision therapy (NEI). Vision therapy is effective for lazy eyes, eye turn, and reading and learning impairments.

Treatment for Eye Misalignment is Limited to Surgery

While surgery may make the eyes seem more aligned, it will not enhance binocular function completely. Surgery only rectifies the medical alignment issue, but does not train the eyes and brain to cooperate. As a result, vision therapy is frequently suggested for people who have had or are considering strabismus surgery.

Every Type of Vision Therapy is the Same

Each vision therapy treatment is unique. Each patient's situation is unique, and it is handled as such. Vision therapists treat patients with various exercises, gadgets, software programs, lenses, and other tools. Your optometrist will determine which alternatives are best for you.

Vision Therapy is Unnecessary with 20/20 Vision

Vision therapy is more concerned with how your eyes operate than with your vision. Indeed, you may have 20/20 vision and be visually impaired without even realizing it. If you're experiencing symptoms like headaches, eyestrain, or trouble concentrating and reading, it's time to have your vision checked by a vision therapist to rule out any underlying issues with your visual abilities.

There are many benefits to opting for vision therapy, even if you feel your eyes are in good condition. So contact vision therapy services and get treatment today!

Tips to Help You Manage Your Vision Disorder

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 12:08:57 GMT

When it comes to vision disorders, it is important to understand that it is becoming more common. Many adults are realizing that the symptoms they had when they were younger have carried into their adulthood and have even potentially worsened. When it comes to disabilities it is important to get a handle on them from a young age. For example, when it comes to vision disability, it is one of the top 10 disabilities that are among adults who are 18 years old, and among children, is one of the more prevalent disabling conditions, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Besides going to vision therapy, here are some things you can do to manage your vision disorder :

Understand that Your Eyes Are Important to Your Health

Your eyes are such an important part of your health. You use them almost every day to see, understand the world around you, and add visual aspects to your memory. In order to keep your eyes in good shape, you want to get them checked out frequently by going to the optometrist.

Keep Track of Your Family's Health History

Some people do not know exactly how important it is to know the health of your family. If diabetes runs in your family, that is potentially something that can be passed on to you and may develop as you get older. The same thing goes with vision disorders. If there is a history of glaucoma, double vision, or even convergence insufficiency, that is something that can be passed along to you as well.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important things you can do. It is good for your overall health and impacts even the smallest parts of your body. This is true even for your vision. By eating a diet that is full of fruits and vegetables, you are providing your body with a rich diet of nutrients. Things like spinach, kale, and collard greens are known to keep your eyes healthy. Also, things that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are great for eye health as well. If you are not able to incorporate these into your diet, talk to your doctor about taking vitamins to help.

Keeping a healthy weight is also a great way to live a healthier lifestyle. When you are overweight or obese, it increases your risk of developing diabetes and other conditions which lead to overall vision loss. Talking to your doctor will be the best way to weigh out your options.

Protect Your Eyes

We never really know how much strain we are putting on our eyes on a daily basis. Whether it is from the sun or even our tech screens, we always need to be protecting our eyes. When protecting your eyes outside you can wear sunglasses or even a hat with proper face protection to block your eyes from the UV rays of the sun. Since the use of technology has increased over the years, we are spending more time in front of our phones and even our computers if we work from home. It is important to block your eyes from the blue lights in these screens by looking into night light options for your tech or even blue light blocking glasses to wear. This will ease the stress put onto your eyes over time and help you manage a vision disorder.

Do Not Smoke

Smoking can be really harmful to your body and overall physical health. It is bad for your eyes because it increases your risk of developing cataracts and optic nerve damage, which can eventually lead to blindness. There are a plethora of reasons not to smoke but it can be easy to start, so think about talking to a mental health expert and medical expert beforehand.

Rest Your Eyes

As mentioned above, if you are spending a lot of time in front of a screen, you might want to give your eyes a proper break. Your eyes can get easily fatigued if you forget to blink because you are focused. There is a 20-20-20 rule you can try: every 20 minutes you can look away 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

There are many vision disorders that can eventually lead to you needing vision therapy. It is best to tackle these issues as best as you can by changing things in your daily life to better manage your eye health. With guidance from experts, think about vision therapy services. To learn more about our treatments and specializations, give us a call today!

What Conditions Can Vision Therapy Treat?

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 17:41:32 GMT

It can be incredibly concerning when you're suffering from vision problems. Vision issues can be debilitating. They cause people to have problems with getting around in their daily life. Additionally, they can progress if they are not treated properly. But treating your vision problems can also be intimidating. Few of us want to deal with trial and error with medications around our eyes, and surgical procedures may be difficult to recover from and tough to face. Fortunately, those are not the only options on the table for those suffering from vision problems. You can also consider vision therapy .

Vision therapy is a more behavioral approach to correcting certain eye problems. While it cannot be used to resolve all eye issues, vision therapy can help train individuals to work with their vision as is. If your vision is uneven, for example, vision therapy can help train you to use your eyes to the best of their ability. With that being said, let's look into some of the eye problems that vision therapy can help treat.

1. Refractive Eye Problems

Refractive eye problems are incredibly common, cited as the most common eye issues in the United States, according to the National Eye Institute. A refractive eye issue causes blurred vision. Essentially, the eyes cannot focus. These problems can be so severe that you could have a very real visual impairment. Really, refractive eye issues are the result of the eyes being unable to focus. Vision therapy would focus on strengthening the muscles that allow the eye to focus through exercises and practice.

2. Amblyopia

Amblyopia is often seen in children. Essentially, those with amblyopia have an issue with the connection between the brain and the eyes. This is often referred to as lazy eye. Amblyopia needs to be addressed through working on those connections, and again training the eyes.

3. Strabismus

Strabismus is another relatively common eye issue, though it can certainly cause alarm in parents. Referred to as crossed eyes, strabismus occurs when a person is unable to align their eyes properly. Strabismus must be evaluated before vision therapy can begin, as it could be several different types: esotropia, exotropia, and hypertropia.

There are many eye problems that vision therapy can help address, though it often must be done in conjunction with other treatments. You should pursue vision therapy only under the guidance of experts. To learn more about our treatments and specialization, call us today!

Why You Should Never Ignore Double Vision

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:00:01 GMT

Vision impairment is a serious problem that has many causes. It can be a result of disease, or it can come as part of the aging process. According to the CDC, over the next three decades, it's estimated that the population of adults with vision problems and age-related eye conditions will double because of the rapidly aging U.S. population. If you are experiencing vision impairment issues, such as double vision , you must quickly visit an ophthalmologist to get examined. Here's why.

What Is Double Vision

Double vision, also known as diptopia, is a condition whereby you see two images of a single object. While this is usually a temporary issue, it can also indicate several serious health conditions. This is why you must never ignore this problem. As soon as you notice such a change in your vision, you must get your eyes checked right away.

How Common Is Diplopia?

It's quite common for people to experience double vision. In fact, more than 800,000 people visit healthcare providers yearly because of dystopia. It's also one of the most common causes of visits to the ER. About 50 000 people visit the ER per year because they will be experiencing double vision.

Distopia and Problems With the Brain

One of the reasons why you must never ignore double vision is because it is linked to problems with the brain. For instance, distopia can be a result of brain trauma, tumors, aneurysms, or stroke. It can also be caused by autoimmune diseases that involve the brain.

Under normal circumstances, the brain usually organizes information that you perceive with your eyes, and it sends it down the nerves that are connected to your eye muscles. These nerves control the movement of your eye muscles and, therefore, the movement of your eye. If there is any problem with the brain, nerves, or eye muscles, it can result in double vision.

When you visit your healthcare provider, they will be able to identify the underlying cause and treat it. This will help restore your vision. If the underlying condition cannot be treated, the optician can also recommend prism lenses to help the eyes align better. While they won't make the problem go away, they can enable you to return to your normal everyday activities.

Double Vision and Problems With Nerves

There are several diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, that can cause damage to the nerves that supply eye muscles, leading to distopia. To deal with such cases, doctors can focus on treating the underlying condition. Fortunately, if the treatment is successful, double vision will typically improve.

Distopia and Muscle Problems

Double vision can also be caused by a problem with the muscles. If one of your eye muscles is weaker than the other, it's possible to start seeing double. Weak eye muscles can be caused by conditions like myasthenia gravis. They can also result from Thyroid disorders.

If you are experiencing thyroid issues, one of the best ways to deal with them is to go under surgery with the hope of repositioning the eye muscles. Before the surgery, it's crucial to stabilize any eye movement abnormalities. This can be done using steroid treatment or prism therapy.

Lens Problems

If your eye's lens is clouded, as in the case of cataracts, your vision can decrease, and you might start seeing double. To fix this issue, doctors recommend surgery. Another lens problem that can also cause double vision is astigmatism. This problem is usually fixed by wearing special contact lenses. These can act as a therapeutic measure and also just to enable you to continue with your day-to-day activities. If you suspect lens problems, you must visit your ophthalmologist as soon as possible so they can investigate and try to determine the root cause. Delaying treatment can further complicate the problem and make it worse.

It's crucial to visit the doctor whenever double vision persists. You might never know how serious the underlying condition is, so delaying is not in your best interests. Once the problem that you will be dealing with is resolved, you must also remember to follow up with regular eye exams. That way, you can be totally certain that the problem is gone for good. Ophthalmologists advise that anyone under the age of 18 and over the age of 65 go for eye exams at least once a year. Everyone in-between should go for an eye exam at least once every two years. Visit us at the Vision and Learning Center to learn more.

What You Need to Know About Convergence Insufficiency

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:11:08 GMT

Convergence Insufficiency, commonly referred to in the medical community as CI eye disorder, is a condition that causes a person's eyes to drift outward and lose focus when looking at close-up objects. The condition can affect their ability to converge – a term for the ability to rotate eyes towards each other- be inadequate. The National Eye Institute has reported that proper refractive correction and similar visual treatments could improve the vision of nearly 150 million Americans living with CI and other visual disorders. Here is what you need to know about Convergence Insufficiency .

Symptoms of Convergence Insufficiency to Know

People with CI may have symptoms that show themselves when the individual attempts to do any sort of close-up work, Things like reading, typing, working on a computer, watching TV, sewing, painting, playing video games, and other similar activities can be difficult and even painful.

Symptoms of a more physical nature that can occur with Convergence Insufficiency include

Performance-related: poor concentration, slow reading, errors in writing, and poor hand-eye coordination
Eye-related: lazy eye, diplopia, blurred vision, eye pain, and headaches

Normally, the human eye is designed to converge on objects that can be as close as 1 inch from the nose. People living with Convergence Insufficiency can have trouble converging and maintaining eye alignment when focused on up-close items.

Diagnosis and Causes of Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence Insufficiency is not an issue with muscle weakness, rather, it is considered a neuromuscular deficiency. This means the nerves that govern the muscle function of the eye are unable to compensate for the poor convergence and cannot react normally. CI is a common eye condition in both children and adults and both males and females seem to be just as likely to develop the condition. Aside from a marked and defined injury to the head or eyes, it is not fully known why some people develop CI.

Final Thoughts Regarding Convergence Insufficiency

What is known is that between 4 and 17 percent of children and adults end up being diagnosed with some degree of this visual disorder (per the CDC). CI usually most commonly occurs in childhood. The disorder can develop and worsen later in life. It can persist for years, but there are treatments available that can help retrain the eyes to converge properly.

However, even with treatment, there can be some underlying issues and symptoms associated with Convergence Insufficiency that can persist for the rest of a person's life. To learn more about CI, contact your health care provider and discuss any symptoms that concern you.

What are the Signs of Binocular Vision Disorder?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 19:00:07 GMT

Binocular vision disorder is a condition in which one has trouble using both eyes together. According to the CDC, in the United States, individuals with vision impairment who are above 40 years are approximately 12 million. Out of 12 million individuals, the blind are estimated to be 1 million, and those with vision impairment are around 3 million even after correction. In addition, those individuals with the disorder due to uncorrected refractive error are approximately 8 million in total. Different signs of bionocular vision disorder may manifest themselves if the child is not getting treatment for their condition right away. They are as follows:

1. Amblyopia or Lazy Eye

Amblyopia is also known as lazy eye, and it occurs when poor sight develops in one eye, but there's nothing wrong with the watch itself. Glasses or contacts can't correct it, but an operation might help improve sight in the affected eye to make it stronger than before. If you notice your child having trouble seeing things clearly with either one or both of their eyes, but their eyes look normal or healthy, then you should suspect that they may have amblyopia. You should be careful about the type of treatment that you give to your child for this condition because it could cause permanent damage to their sight if not handled carefully and with expert advice.

2. Strabismus: Crossed Eyes

Crossed eyes, also known as "strabismus," can happen when one or both of a child's eyes turn inward, outward, upward, or downward instead of having both eyes point in the same direction together at all times. If left untreated, crossed eyes could eventually cause irreversible loss of vision in the affected eye. This is especially common among children who are usually unwilling to socialize with their peers, have very low self-esteem, and are generally shy. If your child is not looking through the center of their eyes when they look at you or anything else for that matter, then you should take them to an eye doctor right away to find out whether their condition will require medical attention or not. Keep in mind, though, that if crossed eyes go untreated for too long, it might cause permanent damage to your child's vision. So, it would be best to seek professional advice as soon as possible without delaying any further than you already have.

3. Rapid Eye Movements

Rapid eye movements usually go hand-in-hand with other symptoms such as lack of coordination, clumsiness, and low muscle tone. Suppose you notice that your child has trouble moving their eyes freely without any problems or difficulties whatsoever. In that case, it's also possible that they might have rapid eye movements. This may be because when children are born prematurely, they are often diagnosed with this condition right away because of the lack of sufficient oxygen within their lungs at birth which could lead to brain damage in some cases if left untreated for an extended period.

4. Nystagmus

Nystagmus is another eye condition that occurs naturally throughout childhood development. However, it's still best to err on the side of caution because it might lead to a more serious problem if left untreated for too long. A few symptoms that may accompany nystagmus are fatigue reduced depth perception, which will make it harder for your child to gauge distances between them and objects around them. Also, they lack coordination and even mental retardation due to the damage it can cause to their brain. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, then be sure to visit an eye doctor as soon as possible for a diagnosis and proper treatment on how you could help improve their condition.

4. Astigmatism: Distorted Vision

Astigmatism is another common eye condition among children because it's very difficult for parents and other responsible adults to monitor every one of their activities throughout the day. A few of the most common symptoms associated with astigmatism are blurred vision, headaches, vertigo (feeling like your surroundings are spinning), light sensitivity, double vision, and nearsightedness.

If your child is diagnosed with this condition, there was a problem while still in the womb during their mother's pregnancy. It doesn't mean, though, that your child will have to live the rest of their lives being hindered by this condition. Suppose you have the financial means to do so. In that case, you should take your child to a good doctor as soon as possible to be prescribed medication or other forms of treatment that can help improve their symptoms and eventually lead them down a typical path in life.

Everything You Need to Know About Syntonics

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:33:23 GMT

According to the experts at the CDC, one of the top 10 disabilities for adults and one of the most predominant disabling conditions for children is vision disability. Treatments for vision disorders have come a long way. One of the top vision therapy services is Syntonics.

What Is Syntonics?

Optometric phototherapy, or Syntonics, is a part of ocular science involving the use of selected light frequencies through a patient’s eyes. It is used in optometry as a form of vision therapy. Syntonics treats the following vision dysfunctions:

Lazy Eye
Eye Turns
Double Vision
Convergence and Focusing Problems
Trauma and Stress
Learning Disorders
Emotional Disorders and Brain Injuries

Use the Most Advanced Vision Therapy Services

Syntonics is a primary treatment or it can be used to support other vision therapy services. Once symptoms are diagnosed during a vision evaluation, eyes are treated via selected visible light that is seen as colors. This vision therapy service can improve the vision of people of all ages. Request a consultation for vision therapy NJ residents trust.

Syntonics is a type of light therapy used to treat vision problems. This non-invasive procedure is routinely used for vision therapy services. The use of this technique has yielded some very impressive results. Here is what you need to know about syntonics.

What is Syntonics?

The word "Syntonics" comes from the word syntony. This is a word that means bringing into balance. This technique uses visible light frequencies to boost visual attention. It also improves the way you comprehend what you see. This therapy has been in use clinically for more than 90 years as part of vision therapy services. It is a method that has shown a great deal of success and has also been proven to be safe. The light entering the eyes will bring back balance to the body's autonomic and endocrine systems.

Who Could Benefit from Syntonics?

Vision disability is among the top 10 disabilities in adults over the age of 18 years, according to the CDC. It is also one of the most common disabling conditions among children. Syntonic phototherapy is among vision therapy services that can help with eyestrain, reading difficulties, and lack of attention. Doctors also use this therapy to treat visual consequences of stress and trauma. Syntonic phototherapy can also be used in combination with other rehabilitation treatments.

How does Syntonic Treatment work?

Research indicates that light frequencies can affect EEG patterns. Light has also been shown to be able to regulate hormones that affect emotions. Syntonic Phototherapy treats eyes conditions by bringing back balance to the autonomic nervous system. Light also enables you to join together important brain centers like the hypothalamus and pineal gland. These are the centers that enable normal visual processing to occur.

A traditional syntonic treatment session takes about five consecutive 20-minute sessions each day for four days. This means the patient will get a total of 20 sessions. You can have these sessions done in the comfort of your home. The procedure must be done in a darkened room so that the patient can focus on the light. So, you must find a room that doesn't have a lot of light in your house for the therapy to be effective.

The light is filtered to complement the patient's neurological and endocrine systems. This is how the therapy affects behavior, performance, and results in changes in optometric test results.

Answering FAQs About Oculomotor Dysfunction

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:10:13 GMT

Oculomotor Dysfunction (OMD) is a common vision disorder that is often misunderstood. The following FAQs provide more information about Oculomotor Dysfunction, and this can help clear any misconceptions or blank spaces you might have had about the disorder.

What Is Oculomotor Dysfunction?

Oculomotor Dysfunction (OMD) is a vision disorder that occurs when a person can't control their eye movement. This can affect the quality of life because voluntary and purposeful eye movement is essential when carrying out tasks such as reading, writing, and playing sports.

Since we live in a highly visual world, there are many other tasks and activities that require accurate and well-coordinated oculomotor skills. Unfortunately, this vision disorder affects many young children and adults alike and also affects things like balance and depth perception.

What Are the Characteristics of Oculomotor Dysfunction?

Oculomotor Dysfunction is characterized by many behaviors. For instance, the affected person develops compensatory behavior such as moving the head when reading, whereas the head typically remains stationary when a person without OMD is reading. Generally, other symptoms of OMD include the following:

Inability to fixate on a target while keeping the eyes steady.
Lack of saccadic eye movements, meaning the eyes will be off-target when moving from one object to another.
Inability to follow a moving target accurately (pursuit eye movements).
Difficulty reading, which results in a slow reading speed. For instance, words seem to blur or float and the person has double vision when reading. This causes the person to struggle to comprehend what they are reading.
Taking too long to perform ordinary visual tasks
Poor hand to eye coordination
Headaches
Abnormal head or body repositioning
Poor depth perception
Motion sickness or dizziness

Are Oculomotor Dysfunction and Dyslexia the Same?

As mentioned, OMD is characterized by difficulty reading. Common effects of OMD include rereading text and using fingers to keep track of words when reading. Because people with OMD have trouble comprehending what they're reading, it's easy for people to assume the person has Dyslexia.

However, these two conditions are different. For starters, OMD occurs when the oculomotor system is defective, while Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading.

Do Children Suffer From this Vision Disorder?

OMD is a vision disorder that also affects children. However, keep in mind that it's normal for children to have trouble performing most visual skills. It takes time for them to develop skills like hand-to-eye coordination, so normally this is something they will outgrow.

However, if a child has OMD, they can't 'outgrow' this condition, so their visual skills will not improve as expected. Sometimes, it takes longer for a child to be diagnosed with OMD because they are often unaware they have a vision disorder.

They think what they are experiencing is normal. The child will also devise compensatory techniques. But as they grow older and take on a greater academic workload, the disorder will become more obvious. Therefore, the child's academic performance will likely decline as they age.

How Do Professionals Diagnose and Treat Oculomotor Dysfunction?

OMD is diagnosed by a qualified eye doctor who has studied neuro-optometry, binocular vision, and vision therapy. A general, primary care optometrist typically does not have sufficient training to diagnose OMD. So, it's normal to visit a general care optometrist and be told everything looks good even if you have OMD.

That's why it's important to seek advice from an eye doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating this vision disorder. Speaking of which, treatment of OMD typically involves a vision therapy treatment program.

Vision therapy makes use of lenses and prisms to target specific eye and brain activities that improve visual skills. In most instances, the patient will work one-on-one with a vision therapist. This allows for a personalized vision treatment therapy program for better results.

Will the Treatment for Oculomotor Dysfunction Be Effective?

As mentioned, the prescribed treatment for OMD is individualized and progress generally depends on the complexity and severity of the vision disorder. When the condition is diagnosed, the eye doctor will be able to recommend a certain number of hours which the patient must spend on vision therapy. Those with a more complex type of OMD will require more hours of vision therapy.

If you or anyone you know has been experiencing symptoms of Oculomotor Dysfunction, we encourage you to schedule an evaluation with us. Our experienced and trained eye doctor will perform a comprehensive, binocular vision assessment that will provide an accurate diagnosis. This will set the path for the right treatment that will improve visual skills and the quality of life.

How Vision Therapy Services Can Help You

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:51:58 GMT

If you've been blessed with the gift of good sight, never take it for granted. What seems to be an everyday occurrence for most of us is the dream of many vision-impaired people, who sometimes think that they have nowhere to turn. When you have vision problems that go beyond the ones that glasses can fix, who do you turn to for help?

Vision therapy services have emerged to try and answer this question, by allowing trained doctors to do one-on-one therapy and improve the eyesight of patients. By getting to know each patient individually and performing specific tests, doctors can determine exactly what is wrong with someone's vision and help them perfect it over time. This is important work, and we think you should know about vision therapy services because of the reasons below.

It's More Common Than You Think

If you think that vision disorders are a relatively rare thing, then unfortunately we have some bad news for you. Approximately 6.8% of children younger than 18 years in the United States have a diagnosed eye and vision condition. Nearly 3% of children younger than 18 years are blind or visually impaired, defined as having trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. These types of problems only get worse with age, and if you or your child has never expressed how bad their vision is, then they might simply think it's a part of life. If a child has never seen the individual leaves on a tree before, anyone can get used to a big green blur.

Individual Therapy is Best

It's all too common within the medical system that doctors and patients don't get to spend enough time together. But when you don't know what is ailing someone, how can you fix it? A vision therapy service are different than other methods of treating patients because they allow a trained specialist to work with an individual patient and try to "see" things from their perspective. With this time and attention paid to detail, vision therapy services are the opposite of a quick doctor's visit. They take time to know patients and what is ailing them with their vision to try and provide the best solution.

Go Beyond the Most Common Tests

Often, people's first objection to vision therapy services is that they've "passed all their vision tests before" at common places such as school or the DMV. We regret to inform you that these tests are rather simplistic and only test the bare minimum amount of vision requirements need to enroll in a public school or attempt to drive a car. While you may be able to see and identify letters that come up during these tests, these can't indicate whether you have problems with depth perception, get dizzy under intense lights, see splotches, or other vision problems. When you enroll in a vision therapy service, you can go beyond the most common tests and get to the true heart of how accurate and good your vision is.

Vision Disorders and Learning Disorders Go Hand in Hand

When you have a vision disorder, you often have trouble learning. This makes sense, as it can be difficult to read a book, watch a video or see what a teacher's doing. By going to a vision therapy service and addressing these issues, you can often correct for learning disorders as well. When you can see, you can learn much better.

You Can See Clearly Now

When you seek out a vision therapy service, there's nothing to be ashamed about or admit defeat over. Lots of people have undiagnosed or misdiagnosed vision disorders that affect their lives on a day-to-day basis but never undergo vision therapy services. By taking this first step to enrolling yourself or your child, you'll be beginning the journey to becoming the best self that you can possibly be without compromises. If vision therapy yields that you need to have eye surgery, corrective lenses, or anything else to improve your vision, then you're better off knowing instead of groping around in the dark. When you're ready to see clearly and become your best self, be sure to contact the Vision and Learning Center for vision therapy services today!

Is a Concussion Causing Your Vision Problems?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:09:16 GMT

A concussion isn't an injury that you should take lightly. In can cause many problems, including issues with your vision. If you are experiencing vision problems or have suffered a concussion recently, here is what you need to know.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a traumatic head injury usually caused by a blow to the head. This impact causes the brain to move back and forth in the skull rapidly, causing damage. One way to think of a concussion is to think of it as a bruise on the brain. Similar to a bruise on your body, your brain can get 'bruised' from the impact on the interior of your skull.

It should be noted that the impact doesn't need to be severe for a concussion to occur. Even a mild impact can cause a concussion that could cause long-lasting problems. These are often more dangerous than severe cases, as many people may not even realize they have a concussion until it worsens.

The Symptoms of a Concussion

The symptoms of a concussion can include:

Blackouts
Fatigue
Disorientation
Difficulty balancing
Confusion
Nausea
Double vision
Vomiting
Amnesia

Symptoms can be both mild or severe, and they can last as little as a few hours or as long as a few months.

How Concussions Cause Vision Problems

Trauma to the head can cause many effects on the visual system, even if scans show no apparent damage. The symptoms that can cause double vision , dizziness, and eye coordination problems after a concussion are often called post-trauma vision syndrome.

The main symptoms of this condition include:

Trouble walking
Trouble focusing
Headaches
Dizziness
Double vision

It's been suggested that the patients who experience the most severe cases of post-trauma vision syndrome have had noted trouble in their visual systems.

Double Vision

If you are experiencing double vision, it could be a sign that your concussion is more severe, and you need to have a professional evaluation as soon as possible.

If serious damage is ruled out, treatment should begin by treating the visual issues as it can be extremely disorienting on its own.

What Causes Vision Problems After a Concussion?

The reasons for vision difficulties after a concussion are a lack of blood supply and damage to neural pathways. For example, when you read a book, your brain is processing visual cues and reading comprehension. This requires increased blood flow, which inflammation can hinder after a concussion. This disrupts the neurons from sending the appropriate signals because they don't have enough energy providing oxygen.

Will It Get Better?

When vision is impacted after a concussion, it will likely improve over time, but it's also possible that it could worsen. Sometimes symptoms will only appear during stressful situations or periods of illness. In some cases, the problems can get better, but only after a long enough healing period.

While most symptoms of a concussion last only a couple of weeks, if you experience symptoms for more than 6 weeks, it's unlikely that it will improve on its own.

Who You Should Talk To

You may think that the first person you should go to is your eye doctor; however, you'll want to find one who specializes in rehabilitation after a brain injury. They will often utilize therapy to help improve your vision problems. Other fixes can include wearing prescribed prism glasses or special lenses to help mitigate light sensitivity.

Don't Wait To Get Help

If you have suffered a head injury and are now experiencing any of these symptoms, don't wait to seek help. Concussions are a serious medical problem, and they require medical treatment to ensure that nothing too severe has occurred. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible or head to your local urgent care or emergency center to get a head start on your treatment.

Do Not Take Vision for Granted, Get Double Vision Therapy for Your Child

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Wed, 26 May 2021 14:42:19 GMT

Approximately 93 million adults in the U.S. are known to be at high risk for vision loss that is quite serious. Only half of those people made an appointment to visit with an eye doctor within the past 12 months. Do not take your vision or your child's for granted. Especially if you or they are suffering from seeing double.

Being able to see a clear image the moment you open your eyes is due to a very complex process. Several parts of your vision have to work together simultaneously and smoothly. When this does not happen as it should, your vision is not working properly and you may have issues such as seeing double. Do you or does your child have a problem with double vision?

What Is Double Vision?

Double vision is a vision disorder concerning how eyes align together so an object can be seen clearly. When there is a misalignment, you end up seeing double. Double vision could occur when one eye is open, this is known as monocular diplopia. It is more common for most people to suffer from binocular diplopia, which is with both eyes.

Certain medical conditions cause muscles to become entrapped because of swelling. This can also cause double vision. Generally, the brain is having difficulties coordinating the right signals to eye muscles. Some cases require immediate treatment, while other cases need coordination between the eyes and brain called double vision therapy.

What Is Therapy for Double Vision?

Therapy for double vision is a vision therapy offered by vision and learning centers. Vision therapy services are typically for children with vision-related conditions, diseases, or injuries. It is a form of therapy utilized to teach and train a child’s brain to have better control of their eyes.

Your child’s brain will have better control over their eyes after therapy for double vision. Their sight and visual acuity are improved. Vision therapy is performed on children most often. However, older adults may also benefit from this type of therapy.

What Is the Key to Therapy for Double Vision?

The key to double vision therapy is neuroscience principles that are evidence-based. Such principles are central to therapeutic practices and are crucial to vision therapy. So, how does vision therapy work?

Understand How Vision Therapy Can Help

Vision therapy is a set of actions and processes that can be personalized to each patient's needs. Some cases may use filters, prisms, as well as other types of equipment that assist with therapy exercises. Innovative technology is also used to enable new and fun forms of therapy that are engaging and feel more like playing a game. It still helps train a child’s brain and eyes to function better. Children can start therapy for double vision no matter their age. However, because of neuroplasticity, it is advised to start as young as possible.

What Are the Results of Vision Therapy?

The results of therapy for double vision depend on a child’s age, the cause of double vision, and the dedication to vision therapy. Children may start to experience the positive benefits within just a few weeks of therapy. Rates of improvement vary significantly per patient. Vision therapy effectiveness, however, cannot be disputed.

It is possible that you will notice improvements in academic performance once your child has experienced vision therapy. They will be able to see better and perform better in class. Have you been informed that your child is not doing well in class? It could be because they cannot see accurately. If your child really needs therapy but they do not get it, their ability to read, comprehend, spell, and write could all be weakened.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Schedule a free visual screening that lasts about 15 minutes for your child. Either fill out an online form or call to set up an appointment. Ask about upfront payments for vision therapy programs that come with reduced rates to get started.

What Is Binocular Vision Disorder?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 17:46:15 GMT

what is binocular vision disorder Despite having two eyes, you see only one image when you look at something. This is called binocular vision. Your brain is complex, automatically performing this process in which it turns two distinct images into one. For this to happen, your eyes have to be in perfect alignment. When the alignment breaks apart, your eyes no longer function as a team. The eye muscles get strained due to constantly trying to correct the alignment for a single clear vision. The result is binocular vision disorder (BVD).

what is binocular vision disorder what is binocular vision disorder Causes and Types of BVD

Most of the time, BVD is inherited genetically. However, the symptoms may take years before finally exhibiting themselves. It can also be caused by head trauma from a sport or an accident, a stroke, or neurological disorders.

what is binocular vision disorder There are a few different types of what is binocular vision disorder binocular vision disorder . An eye clinic typically identifies these common types of BVD:

what is binocular vision disorder

Amblyopia
Strabismus
Convergence Insufficiency

what is binocular vision disorder what is binocular vision disorder Signs and Symptoms of BVD

The signs and symptoms of BVD vary, with some individuals experiencing more symptoms and others less. The common symptoms that people experience with BVD include:

what is binocular vision disorder

Sensitivity to light
Trouble maintaining eye contact
Blurry or double vision
Poor depth perception
Poor hand-eye coordination

There are even more symptoms of BVD that occur when you're performing certain tasks. If you're looking at something and are experiencing blurry vision at far or near distances, trouble with close-up vision, eye strain and sore eyes, or difficulties with night vision, you may have BVD. Reading is often heavily impacted by BVD. People with BVD may see letters moving or running together, have trouble concentrating, experience eye fatigue or headaches, skip lines, have difficulty with content comprehension, or experience painful eye movement when reading.

BVD can even affect how you sleep. The common symptoms include feeling restless when sleeping or having trouble sleeping unless you're in complete darkness. You may also notice symptoms when you're driving, such as experiencing difficulty in judging when to stop due to challenges in estimating distances.

Because you're having trouble with sight, your body can react in a variety of ways. Although you may not realize it, the following could be signs that you have BVD:

what is binocular vision disorder

Nausea
Motion sickness
Dizziness and light-headedness
Lack of coordination, unsteady gait, and difficulty walking straight
Disorientation
Panic attacks
Agoraphobia
Generalized anxiety
Overwhelmed by crowds

If you're experiencing these symptoms, it's important to seek help so that you can live a comfortable life. One of the most effective ways to treat BVD is to go to a vision therapist.

what is binocular vision disorder what is binocular vision disorder Using Vision Therapy to Treat BVD

Vision therapy can be used to treat binocular vision disorder in both children and adults. A treatment plan will depend on the type of BVD that an individual has. It has proven to be very effective in improving one's vision. The individual with BVD goes through a series of therapeutic exercises for the eyes, helping them develop normal visual skills.

Vision therapy is personalized depending on the individual's condition. The sessions last about 30 to 45 minutes, occur once a week, and are supervised by a vision therapist. However, patients also undergo home practices to reinforce the exercises learned at the clinic. For the treatment to work, patients need to be committed to their sessions and home practices. Below are the ways to treat the different BVD conditions:

what is binocular vision disorder what is binocular vision disorder Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

This is a condition in which one eye cannot achieve normal visual acuity, even when using appropriate eyewear, resulting in blurry vision. The condition affects about every 1 in 33 people in the US. It is a result of a brain condition called suppression. This is when the brain ignores all visual information from one eye. Common vision therapy programs for lazy eye include:

what is binocular vision disorder

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

Vision therapy trains the two eyes to work together to achieve comfortable binocular vision.

what is binocular vision disorder what is binocular vision disorder Strabismus

This condition occurs when both eyes cannot maintain a proper alignment and focus on an image. When one eye is looking directly at an image, the other one points in a different direction. It is often referred to as wall-eyed, crossed eyed or squint. Strabismus can be caused by several things, including head trauma, stroke, and severe farsightedness. Common vision therapy programs for strabismus aim for the improvement of:

what is binocular vision disorder

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

An eye doctor will use therapeutic lenses, filters, and prisms as part of the vision therapy program. The program also includes training the eye and brain to connect to achieve clear vision.

what is binocular vision disorder what is binocular vision disorder Convergence Insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency (SI) is a condition in which the eyes struggle to focus on a task, affecting performance at work and attention to tasks. Most people with this condition also struggle when reading so that they will have to use a ruler or a finger to follow the text. If the condition is left untreated, it can result in a more severe condition, such as losing sight in one eye. The common vision therapy treatment for this condition includes:

what is binocular vision disorder

Focusing on near and distant fields of vision
Practice in-depth perception
Use of specialized equipment like lenses and prisms
Tracking the eyes with pursuits and saccades
Training with computerized technology

If you suspect that you have BVD, visit a specialist who will conduct exams and come up with a diagnosis. From there, they can recommend a treatment option depending on the type of BVD you have.

How Vision Therapy Can Better Your Quality of Life

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:07:10 GMT

Vision disability is a leading disability ranking among the top 10 for adults 18 years old and older. It is a prevalent disabling condition among children. You want your child to have every possibility to be able to learn, grow, and be healthy. When a child suffers from a vision-related condition, disease, or injury, they could be having trouble seeing and may be suffering. Vision therapy could help.

Vision Therapy: What Is It?

Vision therapy teaches a child’s brain how to control their eyes better. It can improve their sight and visual acuity. This type of therapy is most often used for children. However, it can benefit older individuals too. There are vision and learning centers dedicated to rehabilitation and vision development using neuroscience principles that are evidence-based.

Neuroscience principles are fundamental to every therapeutic practice and are at the core of vision therapy . You can find out if your child needs vision therapy by scheduling an exam. If they suffer from any of the conditions in the list below, they can be treated using vision therapy:

Double vision
Depth perception problems
Eye fatigue
Processing problems
Lack of hand-eye coordination
Tracking issues

Many of the conditions listed are related to how the brain interprets information and signals from the eyes. The sooner you find out if your child suffers from any of those conditions, the better. Get an early start on correcting their vision by visiting a clinic that offers vision therapy.

Each Patient Gets Personalized Care

The set of actions and processes that make up vision therapy services are completely personalized for every patient and their individual needs. Innovative technology and equipment such as filters and prisms are used to assist children with therapy exercises. New forms of engaging and fun therapy make it feel like they are playing a game while their brain and eyes are being trained to function better.

Vision therapy can start at any age. However, neuroplasticity does play a factor in treatment. It is recommended that children commence therapy as young as possible.

Your Child Could Experience Positive Benefits

Depending on your child’s age, cause of visual impairment, and dedication to the therapy, they could experience positive vision benefits in just a few weeks. The rate of improvement varies between patients. However, the effectiveness of vision therapy can’t be denied.

Your child may show signs of improvement in their academic performance once they have had vision therapy. Being able to see clearly in the classroom makes all of the difference in the world. It is important to have your child’s eyes examined if they are performing poorly in school. It could be they are having a difficult time seeing. If your child does not get proper treatment with vision therapy, their ability to spell, comprehend while reading, and write could all be impaired.

Schedule a Free Visual Screening

The doctors and staff at the Vision and Learning Center truly care about their patients as a whole person. They are concerned about how vision complications can affect their lives, from self-esteem issues to learning disabilities. Their mission is to inspire children to envision their best lives through vision therapy. All it takes is a 15-minute consultation to have your child’s eyes screened. Schedule a free visual screening by either calling or filling out a form online with a local vision therapy clinic. You will be bettering your child's quality of sight and positively changing their life.

How Vision Therapy Can Provide ADHD Support

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 17:19:13 GMT

Anyone who has been diagnosed with ADHD or who has a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD knows the struggles of finding the right treatments. Short for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD is a condition that presents differently from one person to the next. This makes it difficult for doctors to prescribe a one-size-fits-all treatment to patients with ADHD, causing patients to seek different avenues of ADHD support to help manage their symptoms.

A great form of ADHD support is vision therapy. Let's take a look at how ADHD and vision are connected and why vision therapy can help people who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

ADHD and Vision Disorders

ADHD is often thought of as a mental condition and that is typically how treatment plans approach the condition. While this can be effective for some patients, others may be experiencing the symptoms of ADHD for a different reason.

Vision disorders can mimic the symptoms of ADHD or ADD, which is a very similar condition known as attention deficit disorder. Some children are even misdiagnosed with ADHD or ADD and start on medication when the true cause of their issues is a vision problem, such as convergence insufficiency. This happens because professionals observe children having difficulty paying attention and immediately assume that ADHD or ADD is the problem, rather than checking for vision problems. According to a recent study, children with vision problems were two times more likely to develop ADHD than their peers were. The study also revealed that school nurses do not tend to attribute poor attention and behavior to vision problems in the classroom.

This study suggested that both ADHD and vision problems can make it difficult for children to pay attention in class or finish schoolwork. Researchers believe vision problems do this because they affect a child's executive function, which includes higher-order cognitive processes that children use to pay attention, plan, and organize their time and space.

If a child has convergence insufficiency or another type of vision issue, they also often have trouble reading. Your eyes are supposed to converge to focus at the same point on the page when you read. Convergence insufficiency disrupts this process, causing the words to seem blurry and your eyes to strain. You then lose focus and forget the material you just read. This can cause kids to dislike reading and act out in the classroom or at home when asked to read. In turn, their frustration can lead to anxiety and depression.

How Can Vision Therapy Provide ADHD Support?

About 6.8% of children who are younger than 18 in the United States have a diagnosed eye and vision condition. Most schools and pediatricians will aim to diagnose these conditions by testing a child's eyesight with a visual screening. In these screenings, children read letters or symbols on a Snellen chart. If the medical professional detects a deficit, they'll usually suggest prescription glasses.

This screening, however, only tests for visual acuity. Functional vision depends on more than that. Your eyes need to work together to track a moving object, fixate on a stationary object, or scan to find an object in an environment. To determine whether your eyes do this correctly, you need to see a certified optometrist and get an evaluation for functional vision problems. This evaluation can determine if you have convergence insufficiency or another vision disorder.

You can then start with vision therapy services. This therapy helps the eyes work together by teaching them to move correctly without fatigue. As with other forms of therapy, vision therapy requires multiple sessions. The sessions usually include movement activities that challenge your vision, such as bunting a ball that hangs from the ceiling on a rope.

Vision therapy is a form of ADHD support services because it helps the patient learn to correct their vision issue and gives them tools to make activities like reading easier. If your child is in vision therapy, they may learn that using certain fonts helps strengthen their eye movement skills or that highlighting every other line of text with a different color can help them focus. Parents and schools can work together with the optometrist's recommendations for how the child can learn best. With this ADHD support, they may act out less in class and have an easier time focusing.

If you think that you or your child may need ADHD support through vision therapy, contact the Vision and Learning Center today.

Tips For Managing Adult ADHD

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:03:13 GMT

It’s estimated that 4-5% of all adults deal with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD can create problems in many areas of life, but symptoms of ADHD can be managed to help you stay focused and calm.

Without ADHD support, even the simplest tasks can seem overwhelming. But changes can be made through hard work and persistence. These tips can help offer a great deal of ADHD support :

Find a Routine

One of the best things you can do to work through ADHD is to create a sense of routine. You can get organized by designating specific areas for specific things. That way, you won't get distracted by the other items on your to-do list and can focus on one thing at a time.

You can also keep things by regularly making lists. Lists work great from remembering the items you need at the store to completing tasks for work throughout the day. Use them to keep track of things that you need to get done around the house, projects, or work deadlines. Crossing off that item on your list will also give you a flood of satisfaction, making it a great way to give your day a boost.

Manage Your Time

Another good tip for ADHD support is to make the most of your time. One way to do that is by using a clock. Get a watch to help you keep track of time. If you start a project, make note of the time that you start, and then take note of when you finish. If you have trouble meeting deadlines, you can use a timer to give yourself a specific amount of time to complete a task. This should help keep you focused and enable you to get other things done rather than focusing on just one task.

Visit Specialists

If you have adult ADHD, poor vision might be a reason. Blurry vision can make it hard to focus on a particular task, especially if you're working on a computer all day. But there are other vision disorders that can make it hard to complete tasks as well when you still have 20/20 vision. It makes sense that people with vision problems can become easily frustrated if you're trying to complete tasks. Visiting a vision therapy service can help you get the vision support and ADHD support you need. you'll get the professional help you need and be able to have the proper vision to see things more clearly.

The National Eye Institute estimates that vision for 150 Americans can be greatly improved with proper refractive correction. If you find yourself dealing with blurry vision, double vision, or binocular vision disorders, visit the specialists at Vision Learning Center. Providing one-on-one care, the specialists there can offer vision therapy to greatly improve your quality of life.