Vision Therapy

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy, also referred to as visual training, vision training, or visual therapy, encompasses a broad array of techniques designed to address and enhance binocular, oculomotor, visual processing, and perceptual disorders.

Dating back centuries, various forms of visual therapy have been employed. The concept of vision therapy originated in the late nineteenth century to address misaligned eyes (strabismus) without resorting to surgery.

This early form of vision therapy, now known as 'orthoptics,' initially focused on strabismus but has since evolved to include broader areas of practice. Collaborations between eye care professionals, educators, and neuroscientists have expanded the scope of vision therapy to encompass the treatment of other deficits in eye coordination, visual focusing, perception, tracking, and motor skills.

However, due to this expansion and resulting ambiguity regarding the definition of "vision therapy," controversy exists regarding its effectiveness for individuals with learning disorders. Vision therapy comprises a diverse range of non-surgical approaches, often categorized into two main groups based on their acceptance and utilization among eye care professionals:

1) Orthoptic Vision Therapy, commonly known as orthoptics, is prescribed for patients experiencing difficulties with visual skills necessary for reading, eye strain, headaches induced by visual stress, strabismus, and/or double vision. While optometrists and behavioral optometrists commonly practice orthoptic vision therapy, more specialized issues may be co-managed by orthoptists and ophthalmologists.

2) Behavioral Vision Therapy, also known as Visual Integration Vision Therapy or developmental optometry, extends beyond visual system disorders. For instance, proponents of Behavioral Optometry argue that vision therapy can enhance a professional athlete's peripheral vision, improving their responsiveness to fast-moving objects during sports activities.

However, ophthalmologists and orthoptists do not endorse these exercises as clinically significant for vision improvement, particularly in the absence of visual pathology. They contend that perceptual-motor deficiencies are better addressed through speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy. Behavioral Vision Therapy targets issues such as visual attention and concentration difficulties, classified by behavioral optometrists as weaknesses in visual information processing. These challenges may manifest as an inability to maintain or shift focus within a spatial area, with some proponents suggesting that addressing poor eye tracking can enhance reading skills.

3) Perception (Motor) Therapy, while potentially impacting visual outcomes, may involve intact visual systems. Disorders like dyslexia and sensory processing disorders are often managed by Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists, particularly in cases of pathological or neurological conditions such as hemispatial neglect. Such interventions fall outside the scope of what is classified as 'behavioral vision therapy' due to their distinct efficacy and widespread application.