What is Vision Therapy?
Vision Therapy is an individualised program of activities that with repetition allows us to develop and modify an action, in this case visual. By utilising a customised program, the aim is to improve the coordination and function of the visual system and incorporate visual processing. VT helps to increase a patient’s ability to concentrate on a task without visual fatigue. This improves their quality of work, ability to learn in the classroom, and ability to focus for long periods of time. Patients also learn how to better control their eyes and improve their understanding of what they are seeing and reading.
See More, More Quickly with Less Effort.
If you or your child has 20/20 vision, it does not necessarily mean you have good vision. Vision is the ability to coordinate both eyes together to allow the accurate direction of movement and increase the awareness of text and other visual processing.
In recent years, Syntonics has also assisted the improvement of academic results in patients with vision related learning disabilities, mental health issues and behavioural disorders. This has also extended to our older patients with improved productivity in the workplace, mood, ability to concentrate and a decrease in the effects of visual stress.
Vision Therapy at Buck and Todd Optometrist
After a behavioural eye examination has been completed, we can customise a vision therapy program that will give you or your child the ability to acquire or enhance their visual skills, including peripheral vision, depth perception, tracking, and fixation just to name a few.
The vision therapy journey begins with an orientation session led by our Vision Therapy Assistant, Ms. Liz. During this session we’ll demonstrate various vision therapy activities tailored to your needs, facilitate goal-setting discussions to align with your or your child’s aspirations for the program, and establish clear expectations for success. We emphasize the essential role of active participation from patients in both practice sessions and home exercises, as this significantly influences the program’s effectiveness. It’s important to recognise that without consistent effort and dedication, the desired outcomes may not be achieved. Our team is dedicated to crafting an engaging, achievement-oriented, and personalised program for each individual, ensuring the best possible results.
Upon opting for the prescribed treatment plan, you or your child will engage in weekly sessions with Ms. Liz, where you’ll learn targeted activities designed to enhance visual skills crucial for daily functioning. Consistent daily practice of these activities at home is essential for retaining the acquired skills beyond the completion of treatment. Throughout each treatment block, regular optometrist reviews are conducted to meticulously monitor progress. This ensures that any necessary adjustments to the program can be made promptly, guaranteeing optimal outcomes for the patient’s visual development journey.
- Vision therapy programs run from 20 to 50 weeks in duration. For the simple ocular co-ordination conditions our baseline program typically runs for 20 sessions over 20 weeks.
- Express vision therapy options have limited school holiday availability and run for 3 weeks with twice daily sessions.
- As levels of complexity increase so does the expected time required to attain normal binocular vision function.
- Our optometrist will determine which program suits your vision needs and will advise you upfront of the expected program duration.
- Patient commitment and family support are essential for vision therapy success.
Who would benefit from Vision Therapy?
There is no age limit to who would benefit from Vision Therapy. We work with children all the way through to adults who suffer from various symptoms or vision related problems. These include, however are not limited to:
- Learning related vision problems including Dyslexia
- Poor eye teaming or eye coordination (Vergence/Focussing issues)
- “Lazy” eye or “eye/s that turn” (Amblyopia/Strabismus)
- Mild traumatic brain injury (rehabilitation: visual difficulties secondary to brain/head trauma or stroke
- Computer users
- Elite athletes and sports people
- Migraine/ headache sufferers
- Motion sickness
- Vertigo
- Poor depth perception
- Poor peripheral awareness
Vision Therapy Equipment
Each patient will receive a workbook and equipment needed for their home therapy sessions at the start of their program. This workbook is to come to each in practice session with our vision therapy assistant as it will have your week of daily homework logged. We do lend patients equipment for physical activities that need to be taken care of while at home and returned to the practice in good condition. These tools are not toys and are expensive.
Vision Therapy and Syntonics
Syntonics is an amazingly effective adjunctive therapy which enhances our Vision Therapy program. Syntonics uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate brain function, reduce stress and open awareness of peripheral fields.
To read about Syntonics is and how it may benefit you or your child click HERE.
Cost and Rebate
The cost of vision therapy depends on the length of the program that has been recommended. We offer discounted price of patients that book their sessions at certain times of the day. As a part of the information package, we email patients program fee information a and EziDebitTM payment plan.
If you feel you would benefit from vision therapy, call our friendly team, and book a consultation today. If your child is struggling in school and could benefit from a comprehensive behavioural eye exam, please take the time to complete the following child pre-examination questionnaire and we will contact you to book a behavioural eye assessment.
