Sometimes referred to as physical therapy for the eyes, Vision Therapy (or VT) is an individualized therapy program that works on improving or correcting vision problems and functioning. It is different than glasses or contacts that simply compensate for visual deficiencies. The purpose of VT is to train the visual system to correct itself.
A common misconception of vision therapy is that it strictly works on strengthening eye muscles. Vision therapy does so much more! It not only works to improve vision and strengthen eye muscles, it also works on strengthening the pathways from the eyes to our brain. VT also helps to improve the parts of the brain that control vision.
There are many important skills that are worked on in a VT treatment program. These skills include:
Saccades: The small movements or jumps that your eyes make when reading a long line of text.
Pursuits: The ability to follow a moving object smoothly.
Accommodation: The ability of your eyes to change focus quickly from distance to near.
Eye teaming: the ability to use you eyes together as a team.
