What is Vision Therapy?
Contrary to common belief, the focus of optometric vision therapy (OVT) is not on strengthening eye muscles. The muscles that control eye movement are already incredibly strong. Instead, vision therapy is prescribed by developmental optometrists to improve the connection between the brain and the eyes. This communication is key to visual performance skills, which impact how efficiently and accurately we see and process visual information.
While visual acuity—the "20/20" aspect of vision—depends on the size and shape of the eyes and can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgery, visual performance skills such as focusing, eye tracking, and convergence rely on how well these abilities developed during childhood. These skills can also be re-learned or enhanced later in life, particularly after challenges such as a brain injury.
In this article, the experts at eyecarecenter delve into the principles of vision therapy, the conditions it can treat, and how it might benefit individuals of all ages.
What Conditions Can Vision Therapy Treat?
Vision therapy uses the concept of neuroplasticity1—the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections—to improve vision performance skills. Through repeated exposure to targeted activities and exercises, vision therapy enhances how the brain and eyes work together. This leads to better visual performance in daily activities such as reading, writing, driving, playing sports, and maintaining balance.
Symptoms of poor visual performance skills can include difficulty focusing, frequent headaches, squinting, blurred or double vision, eye strain, and poor eye-hand coordination. Additional signs may involve light sensitivity, dizziness, imbalance, or the tendency to cover one eye. These issues can significantly affect quality of life if left untreated.
Among children, it’s estimated that one in ten experiences vision performance problems severe enough to hinder their ability to learn in school. A comprehensive eye exam with a developmental optometrist can assess visual skills and uncover any challenges, ensuring children are not struggling unnecessarily due to undiagnosed vision issues.
Who Benefits from Vision Therapy?
Scientific research over the past two decades has demonstrated that neuroplasticity is present throughout life, making vision therapy an effective solution for people of all ages. Both children and adults can benefit from programs designed to strengthen visual performance and address specific challenges.
For children, vision therapy is often used to correct developmental or functional visual issues that interfere with learning and day-to-day activities. Conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (misaligned eyes), and convergence insufficiency (difficulty focusing on close objects) are commonly treated with targeted exercises. Early intervention is especially important, as it supports normal visual development during critical growth periods. Vision therapy can also be beneficial for children struggling with reading, writing, or maintaining attention in school due to visual challenges.
Adults, too, can see significant improvements through vision therapy. Neuroplasticity allows the brain and eyes to adapt, making it possible to retrain visual functions even later in life. Many adults seek vision therapy to rehabilitate vision after brain injuries, such as those caused by concussions or strokes. It is also commonly used to address conditions like double vision or strabismus that were never treated during childhood. Additionally, vision therapy helps manage visual fatigue and strain associated with prolonged screen use, and it can assist older adults in maintaining focus, tracking ability, and overall visual independence as they age.
What is Involved in Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy programs are designed to address specific visual challenges through a combination of in-office sessions and at-home exercises. Each program is tailored to the individual’s needs and typically spans several weeks or months. The goal is to strengthen visual function and coordination by utilizing a variety of specialized tools and techniques. Key components of vision therapy often include:
Specialized Lenses and Filters: These tools enhance focusing abilities, adjust perception, and reduce visual stress. For example, lenses can improve clarity and retrain the eyes to work together more effectively, supporting smoother and more efficient visual processing.
Prisms: Prisms are used to shift the perception of space, enabling the brain and eyes to adapt to new visual inputs. They are particularly effective for treating conditions like strabismus or convergence insufficiency, where eye alignment or focusing abilities require improvement.
Eye Exercises: Guided exercises target specific skills such as eye tracking, focusing, and teaming. These activities help train the eyes to work in harmony and improve how the brain interprets visual information.
Sensory Integration Techniques: These techniques connect visual skills with other sensory and motor functions, improving coordination between vision, balance, and movement. Sensory integration is especially valuable for athletes or individuals recovering from brain injuries.
Balance Boards and Coordination Tools: Physical tools like balance boards are sometimes incorporated into therapy to enhance the relationship between vision and physical movement. These activities improve spatial awareness and support visual-motor integration.
Computer-Based Activities: Many vision therapy programs include interactive digital exercises or games that provide real-time feedback to train the visual system. These activities are engaging for children and effective for adults addressing more complex visual challenges.
What is Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation?
With more than half of the brain’s circuits dedicated to vision, it’s no surprise that visual skills are often affected by brain injuries2. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is a growing field within optometry that integrates vision therapy into the rehabilitation process for individuals recovering from neurological conditions. This specialized approach helps address the visual challenges associated with concussions, strokes, neurotrauma, and more.
A neuro-optometrist is an eye care professional who diagnoses and treats visual dysfunctions caused by brain injuries. They play a crucial role on interdisciplinary healthcare teams, working alongside neurologists, therapists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive care for patients with neurological deficits.
Concussed athletes are increasingly referred to neuro-optometrists not only for vision rehabilitation but also to assist team physicians in determining when it is safe to resume play. For example, convergence testing—a measure of the eyes’ ability to work together—offers an objective way to track recovery. Similarly, post-stroke patients benefit from neuro-optometry, as it supports visual rehabilitation and helps restore independence and quality of life.
Is There Evidence to Support Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is backed by extensive evidence-based scientific research3, yet it remains one of the lesser-known treatments in eye care. Studies show that convergence insufficiency, a condition where the eyes struggle to work together when focusing on nearby objects, affects at least 5% of school-aged children, amounting to approximately 3.8 million kids4. Among adults, around 2%—or 5 million people—experience this condition. Additionally, more than 2.1 million adults suffer from brain injuries each year, many of whom develop vision dysfunctions as a result.
When you consider these figures alongside the prevalence of other well-known eye conditions, such as glaucoma (affecting 2.7 million people) and dry eye syndrome (impacting 4.9 million), the importance of vision therapy becomes clear. Research continues to highlight its effectiveness in addressing a wide range of visual challenges.
What is Sports Vision Training?
Vision therapy principles are also applied in sports vision training, a specialized area designed to enhance an athlete’s visual performance skills beyond what is considered “normal.” Unlike traditional vision therapy, which focuses on treating specific conditions, sports vision training aims to improve abilities like reaction time, hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and tracking. Think of it as personal training for the visual system, giving athletes an edge in their performance.
This growing specialty in optometry has gained attention from athletes looking to maximize their potential. For more information about sports vision training, visit the International Sports Vision Association.
Rehabilitate and Enhance Your Vision with eyecarecenter
Vision therapy offers a non-invasive, highly effective approach to addressing a wide range of visual challenges, from improving eye coordination to aiding recovery after an injury. Whether you’re seeking support for a child with learning-related vision issues or exploring options for your own visual needs, vision therapy provides a personalized solution tailored to your unique circumstances. By enhancing the connection between the brain and the eyes, vision therapy can transform the way you see and interact with the world, improving your overall quality of life.
At eyecarecenter, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain optimal vision health. Our team of skilled optometrists is here to evaluate your needs, explain the benefits of vision therapy, and guide you through a customized treatment plan.
Take the first step toward clearer, more effective vision. Contact eyecarecenter today to schedule a consultation and discover whether vision therapy is the right choice for you or your loved ones. Together, we’ll work to help you achieve your best vision yet!
References
Felleman DJ1, Van Essen DC. Cereb Cortex. 1991 Jan-Feb;1(1):1-47.
Scheiman M, Mitchell GL, et al. Vis Dev Rehabil. 2015;1(3):214-228.