Vision Therapy for Adults
Effective vision comes down to the way the brain and eyes interact. Whether reading words on a powerpoint presentation, working overtime, or sitting in front of a screen all day and typing endless emails, we rely on our visual system to work properly in order to succeed in these and other tasks.
You can excel in reading the charts on the wall, but still struggle with eye strain, headaches, fatigue, attention and concentration — all of which are performance-based criteria needed to meet work deadlines and effectively manage office-based stress. To excel in these areas, you need to have excellent visual skills. Fortunately, you can effectively improve vision skills through vision therapy.
What is Vision Therapy?
Vision Therapy is a customized regimen of individualized activities and exercises made to retrain the brain and eyes to work better as a team and improve visual functioning. The aim of vision therapy is to enhance vision processing skills such as eye-tracking, focusing and eye teaming abilities, as well as hand-eye coordination and visual processing speed. This is effective for those struggling with reading, memory, focus, balance, fixation —and a wide range of other visual tasks.
Contact Lifetime Eyecare to learn how our optometrists can help you function better in your day-to-day life.
Who Can Benefit From Vision Therapy?
A large number of patients have an undiagnosed vision condition that might be affecting their ability to function and succeed in their profession.
Vision therapy can help adults with conditions and symptoms related to:
- Focusing issues
- Eye fatigue
- Double vision
- Convergence Insufficiency
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Anyone seeking to improve office performance
Vision Issues: What Symptoms Should You Look Out For?
Be on lookout for any symptoms listed below, as it may indicate that you have a vision issue.
- Lazy eye, cross-eye,
- Difficulty Reading
- Difficulty staying focused
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Constant squinting/head tilting
- Favoring one eye over the other
- Headaches or fatigue after reading or computer work
How Does Vision Therapy Work?
Vision therapy consists of personalized exercises that make use of lenses, prisms, filters, occluders and other equipment aimed at developing visual skills and processing. Nowadays, thanks to advanced technologies and new computer-based therapies, doing and tracking home-based vision therapy exercises is easier than ever
Vision Therapy typically consists of a weekly 45-minute in-office appointment and approximately 15-minutes of assigned daily exercises. The vision therapy program can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the diagnosis, eye health and compliance level.
Vision therapy involves close monitoring and follow-up appointments to ensure noticeable improvements in your visual functions. Over the course of the program, the eye doctor will decide how many visits are required in order to achieve optimal results.
How Long Does It Take to See Results with Vision Therapy?
It’s important to note that the goal of vision therapy is to improve functionality, not complete recovery.
For certain adults, gains can be experienced fairly soon. For others, it may take up to 6 months or more to realize significant results. Naturally, this depends on the patient, the unique therapy regimen and their adherence to the vision therapy program.
Is There an Age Limit to Vision Therapy?
There is no age limit. Because of the brain’s neuroplasticity, the brain remains dynamic and flexible throughout our lives. Just as with muscle training or learning to play an instrument, the more we practice, the more skillful we become and the better our visual function.
Does Vision Or Medical Insurance Cover The Cost Of Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy may be covered under major medical insurance plans (vision therapy is most often applied to a medical policy as opposed to a vision policy). However, certain insurance companies may deny or place severe limits on coverage for vision therapy as a cost-saving measure. When sorting out the insurance details for vision therapy, it’s important to know what questions to ask of your insurance agent or workplace HR department.
If you’re considering vision therapy, let us help you understand how to ask the right questions of your insurance company to determine whether you can get coverage.
The first step in determining whether vision therapy can help you with work or sports is to contact Lifetime Eyecare and schedule a comprehensive exam with our optometrists. Following the exam, our optometrists will provide a diagnosis and determine whether vision therapy is the best course of action. If so, you will be prescribed an individualized eye treatment program.
Lifetime Eyecare is committed to transforming lives through vision therapy.
Our practice serves patients from Edmonton, Leduc, Sherwood Park, and Beaumont, Alberta and surrounding communities.
