Vision Therapy Perth & Fremantle

Vision therapy can treat a variety of vision conditions, including:
• Strabismus (eye turn)
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Convergence insufficiency (eye teaming)
• Saccadic dysfunction (eye tracking)
• Traumatic brain injury (concussion)
• Difficulty with reading

Vision therapy can improve the following visual skills:
• Visual acuity
• Stereopsis (3D) binocular fusion
• Eye teaming skills
• Convergence
• Eye tracking
• Focusing skills
• Depth perception
• Visual attention span
• Visual processing
• Visual memory
• Visual motor integration
• Hand-eye coordination

The first step is a detailed eye examination with one of our optometrists. Both of our optometrists are members of Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists and can determine if you will benefit from vision therapy and how many sessions you, or your child, will need in order to see results.

If your child is exhibiting any of the following signs of a vision problem, they may be a great candidate for vision therapy. These issues can be discussed with one of our optometrists in a detailed eye examination and consideration given to starting vision therapy.
• Reading below grade level
• Skips/repeats lines when reading
• Omits small words when reading
• Poor comprehension
• Difficulty maintaining attention
• Poor handwriting
• Avoids reading or other near vision tasks
• Headaches at the end of the day
• Labeled “lazy” or “learning delayed”
• Diagnosed with ADHD or dyslexia

Yes, vision therapy has been proven effective for improving many binocular vision conditions. The Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) showed that in practice vision therapy is an effective treatment. In addition, numerous published research studies prove the effectiveness of vision therapy for improving reading and learning performance.

Source

Common exercises used in vision therapy include:

1. Eye Tracking: Patients follow a moving object with their eyes to improve smooth eye movements, essential for reading and tracking activities.

2. Convergence and Divergence Training: Exercises that involve focusing on objects as they move closer and further away to strengthen the eyes' ability to work together.

3. Focus Shifting: Practising switching focus between near and distant objects helps improve visual flexibility and clarity.

4. Saccades: This exercise involves rapidly shifting focus between two points, enhancing reading efficiency and visual scanning skills.

5. Peripheral Awareness Training: Activities that develop peripheral vision, helping to improve spatial awareness and visual field perception.

6. Balance and Coordination Activities: Integrating movement and balance tasks, such as catching a ball while focusing on a target, to enhance the connection between vision and physical coordination.

7. Visual Memory Exercises: These tasks involve recalling and recognising visual patterns or sequences, boosting visual processing and retention.

Vision therapy is effective for adults, offering benefits similar to those seen in children due to the brain's ability to adapt throughout life. Adults often have higher motivation, which enhances their commitment and results.

Studies show that vision therapy can significantly improve conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) and convergence insufficiency (CI), with around 50% of adults experiencing symptom relief for CI after 12 weeks of therapy.

Combining office-based sessions with home exercises proves most effective. While progress may take longer compared to children, vision therapy helps improve visual skills and quality of life, reducing issues like eye strain and headaches.

Each vision therapy plan is designed to suit the unique needs of the individual. Depending on the nature and severity of the condition, a patient can typically expect to start to see results in around eight weeks. 

Like any skill, training visual performance takes time and consistency. With vision therapy, we're training the brain to a new level of automatic visual response. Yet, it is always important to remember that vision therapy's results are significant and can be life changing.

As with any individualised treatment program, vision therapy sessions will vary depending on the patient's needs. Vision therapy treatments involve exercises that strengthen communication between the eyes and brain and improve visual skills.

During our weekly in-office sessions, patients perform a variety of exercises involving lenses, prisms, filters, occluders, and even computer-based activities. These exercises are designed to improve eye coordination, focus, and tracking, among other visual skills.

Patients work closely with their optometrist, who will guide them through a series of exercises. Like any skill, whether in sports, music, or academia, ocular skills require practice to improve. The optometrist's role is to monitor progress, adjust the exercises as needed, and provide support and guidance throughout the therapy.

A series of exercises will be provided for home practice. We recommend daily practice of fifteen to twenty minutes five out of seven days weekly. It is vital to remain consistent with your prescribed vision therapy treatment program to improve skills and reduce symptoms. Consistency is critical, whether keeping to scheduled appointments or home exercises.

Vision therapy facilitates the acquisition and consolidation of fundamental visual skills and abilities.

Some conditions, like strabismus and amblyopia, can result in underperformance and decreased visual acuity in the poorly functioning eye. In these cases, vision therapy strengthens the eyes' ability to work together and improves vision in the poorly functioning eye.

For other conditions, such as accommodative insufficiency, where the eyes cannot focus together accurately when reading, vision therapy improves the ability to coordinate the eye's aiming and focusing skills, resulting in increased comfort and concentration for sustained near tasks.

No. At For Eyes, we are a private billing practice. This allows us to prioritising your eye health and gives us the ability to invest in advanced technology, training and spend the right time to understand your concerns.