August 13, 2024

Who is a Candidate for Vision Therapy

It may be difficult to understand that someone can see very clearly yet experience vision-related challenges. But that's the reality for people who have an excellent '20/20' vision but lack what's known as well-developed 'visual…
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Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy

It may be difficult to understand that someone can see very clearly yet experience vision-related challenges. But that’s the reality for people who have an excellent ’20/20′ vision but lack what’s known as well-developed ‘visual skills’. The ability to track the path of a thrown ball or to read a sentence in a book both require well-developed visual skills. Such skills can be learned at any age.

We offer customized vision therapy to help people develop their visual skills and reach their potential, both at school and on the sports field.

Does Your Child Have Poor Visual Skills?

Some children and adults have lagging visual skills – even if they have excellent eyesight. They may misjudge the distance to the curb while riding a bike or driving a car, or lack the hand-brain coordination needed to easily catch a ball. While reading, they may inadvertently skip lines of text. The strain of reading may cause them to rub their eyes, suffer from headaches, become fatigued, lose concentration, or hold books too close to their eyes. This may also experience blurred during class or examinations. As a result, their reading comprehension lags, and homework goes undone.

In fact, up to 1 in 5 children have a visual problem that hinders learning, and unless addressed, the problem will persist into adulthood. Vision-related challenges affect a person’s performance in school, at work and even while playing sports. This, in turn, hampers one’s self-confidence and can thwart academic and even professional success.

What Is Vision Therapy and How Can It Help?

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Vision therapy can significantly improve the way the eyes and brain work together to achieve clear and comfortable vision at all times.

Vision therapy begins with a functional eye examination to test for visual acuity, depth perception, and visual skills, and assess whether the eyes are working in tandem. If vision problems are identified, a customized vision therapy program will be prescribed to the child’s specific needs. It will include exercises taught in the office once or twice a week and reinforced through at-home training.

Who Can Benefit from Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy can help patients with the following eye conditions:

  • Amblyopia (‘Lazy Eye’): the visual skills in one eye is weaker due to a stronger connection between the other eye and the brain
  • Strabismus (‘Crossed or Turned Eyes’): the eyes point in two different directions, either occasionally or permanently
  • Double vision
  • Binocular-vision problems: eye strain that results from the eyes being slightly misaligned and not working together as a team
  • Eye-movement disorders, difficulties scanning across a page or jumping between words
  • Accommodative disorders: trouble maintaining focus on a close-by object
  • Ocular motility dysfunctions: abnormal eye alignment or difficulty controlling large eye movements
  • Visual-perceptual problems: difficulty processing visual information
  • Vision problems resulting from developmental delays and acquired brain injuries

Vision therapy does not cure dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But many children and adults with these (at times misdiagnosed) conditions actually have poor visual skills, so a comprehensive eye exam is an important first step toward getting to the root of the issue.

Our practice serves patients from Victoria, Nanaimo, Duncan, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia and surrounding communities.

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Our Victoria Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
200-775 Topaz Ave
Victoria, BC V8T 4Z7
Phone
(250) 590-7384
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Friday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
5.0
Out of 265 Reviews
Our Nanaimo Practice
Opto-Mization Optometry & Vision Therapy
205-1825 Bowen Rd
Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
Phone
(250) 591-0270
Fax
250-412-6459
Email
(Do not send personal health information by email.)
  • Monday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Tuesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday:
    10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Thursday:
    11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Friday:
    9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Saturday:
    Closed
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Rating
4.9
Out of 59 Reviews

You Ask, We'll Answer

Educating you so you can make informed decisions

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  • What is Neuro-Optometry?

    Neuro-Optometry focuses on the intricate connection between your visual system and the brain, extending beyond traditional eye care to assess functional vision. This branch of optometry examines how your eyes track, move, coordinate, and how your brain processes depth, motion, and balance. Disruptions in these functions can lead to a range of issues including headaches, migraines, dizziness, balance challenges, post-concussion symptoms, reading difficulties, and attention deficits (ADHD). By exploring these functional areas, we also identify opportunities to enhance performance in activities such as sports, reading speed, and cognitive processes.

  • What is Vision Therapy?

    At Opto-Mization, vision therapy is a specialized, personalized program aimed at improving visual skills and abilities. It goes beyond traditional vision therapy to help improve how the eyes and brain work together, addressing visual-motor and perceptual-cognitive challenges to enhance overall visual function. It’s more than just exercises; it’s a pathway to better vision and improved daily life.

  • Do you Provide Regular Eye Exams and General Optometric Services?

    Yes, alongside vision therapy and neuro-optometry, we offer comprehensive eye exams and general optometry services. Our experienced optometrists perform thorough eye exams to evaluate overall eye health, identify any eye conditions or diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses when beneficial.

  • Who is the Ideal Candidate for Vision Therapy and Neuro-Optometry?

    Vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation can help individuals of all ages. Whether you’re struggling with visual processing issues, binocular vision disorders, amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), or have sustained a brain injury, our services might be beneficial for you. Contact us to discuss if our tailored approach can meet your specific needs and goals.

  • Do I Need a Referral to See an Optometrist at Opto-Mization?

    No, you do not need a referral for an eye exam at Opto-Mization. We welcome anyone who suspects they might benefit from our services, whether you’re experiencing symptoms of visual discomfort or just want to ensure optimal visual performance. Feel free to reach out and schedule your appointment directly with us to take the first step toward understanding and improving your visual function.

  • Do You Direct Bill Insurance?

    Yes, we offer direct billing for a variety of insurance plans to make the process as seamless and hassle-free as possible for our patients. Our knowledgeable staff is well-versed in working with insurance providers, ensuring that you can maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for our services, including vision therapy and eye exams.