In my role as a parent, I have been thrown on the other side of the consultant’s desk. My six year old was diagnosed with anisometropic amblyopia two months after his 5th birthday. His condition was identified by my ophthalmologist, who then referred me to the pediatric sub-specialist. The pediatric ophthalmologist informed me that my son’s visual acuity of 20/200 in his left eye may or may not improve. In fact, I was told the prognosis was poor and we should start with eye glasses. We subsequently proceeded to patch his “good” eye. His vision gained little ground and no mention of Vision Therapy was made. I pursued Vision Therapy after an educator made me aware of it. I went to an optometrist who specialized in vision therapy and was given a list of at-home exercises to work on with my son. His vision started to improve. When a better level of visual acuity was reached, we started in-office therapy. This not only helped strengthen the weak eye, but improved the other aspects of the amblyopia (Lazy Eye). It trained him to use binocular vision (the use of both eyes at the same time) by using the weaker eye when the stronger eye is NOT patched. He is now at 20/40 with glasses. Kimberley C., Adult When my optometrist and I finally discovered that I had Amblyopia (and that it was treatable), it was a huge relief. I was recommended Vision Therapy to see if we could fix the problem. Vision Therapy was slow going at first, but I stuck with it and slowly we started seeing improvements. Then one day it seemed like someone threw the light switch and my eyes started working together again. They continue to improve and it has been an uplifting and exciting experience. I am living proof that a person can regain better vision even when they are older. I would strongly recommend to anyone with a child with vision problems to take care of it ASAP as it will ensure a better education and life in general.

My daughter Ashley was really struggling in first grade. When she began vision therapy, her grades were low and her handwriting was below the standard of her age group. The teacher was so concerned that she recommended that I have Ashley’s mental capacity tested. I knew that was not the source of the problem because when I went over her school work at home, she had no problem comprehending the information. The trouble stemmed from her writing the information on paper. Around the same time, her gym teacher expressed concern about Ashley’s great difficulty catching a ball and her eye to hand coordination. I started taking Ashley once a week for Vision Therapy. She was diagnosed as having difficulty focusing her vision due to her lazy eye (Amblyopia). After about a year of therapy, Ashley’s grades have improved to the point where she is currently on the Honor Roll. She received all A’s and B’s on her school work. Her handwriting has improved tremendously. Her second grade teacher is happy with her performance. Ashley has also regained her confidence regarding her physical abilities. She wants to play more sports in her spare time. Ashley looks forward to her weekly visits because the staff makes the exercises seem like games rather than therapy. They have a very upbeat and positive attitude, which inspires and motivates my daughter.

My daughter, Lisa, who was seven at the time, had just begun to have headaches. One day following a vision screening at school, she came home and told me that she could not see anything on the eye chart out of her left eye. The school nurse sent home a card telling the results of the test. At this point we had her examined by our optometrist, who immediately referred us to a developmental optometrist (vision therapy specialist). Since Vision Therapy Lisa can now SEE with BOTH eyes. When she started, one eye was 70% shut down giving only 30% vision in that eye. She has near normal vision now. She wears both contacts and glasses and is doing just great.

After the first month of Vision Therapy, she noticed that she could read better. After about 4 months, she noticed that when she covered her good eye, she could see better with her other eye (her lazy eye). There was no more blurred or double vision.

From kindergarten through college, I have always needed to cover one eye for close focusing. I also suffered from severe daily headaches, dizziness, and nausea. After Vision Therapy, I can now do everything with two eyes and rarely get headaches. My eyes work very well as a team, and I have tools to maintain my hard-earned gains for the rest of my life. Since I no longer have severe headaches, my comfort level has improved drastically. My concentration at work has also improved and working long hours is now manageable. I’ve had a renewed desire to read for pleasure because it no longer causes me headaches. I feel like a new person. Each little step in the process became fun as I saw drastic improvements in my lifestyle.

Justin was diagnosed at four-and-a-half years old with a lazy right eye and was put in glasses. His eyes were checked every six months until he was six years old. At his 7th birthday exam, we expected the usual prescription but were stunned to learn that his eyes were not tracking together and that his right eye had pretty much shut down (wasn’t being used). The doctor recommended another eye doctor who specialized in Vision Therapy and children’s vision. My son was given the most thorough eye exam I had ever seen Justin or anyone else go through. The diagnosis was that his right eye was indeed not functioning at all. He was forced to use his left eye for everything. It also greatly affected his depth perception for ball sports like baseball and football. The most perplexing question was, “How was he doing so well in school?” His right eye, now dominant, performed all functions! Justin is such a driven and motivated student he must have figured out ways to make sense of all his schoolwork even with only being able to use one eye. After 16 weeks of intensive visual therapy and “eye homework,” Justin’s vision is much improved because his right eye is now working and both eyes are working together. The confidence he has now is difficult to explain but is much greater than before visual training. The ease and comfort level of doing homework and performing difficult academic tasks is now present at a much higher level than ever before. Vision Therapy took Justin from his normal way of seeing and processing information to where both eyes work and therefore both sides of his brain can function as they should. Vision Therapy opened up Justin’s world so he could see and do what normal sighted children can.

When my son Kasey came to you, I had no idea he was having so much trouble with his vision. He was ill throughout the third grade, he hated school, reading was a huge challenge for him and his writing was mostly unreadable. He couldn’t write on the line and he had trouble with hitting the curb with his bike and hitting a baseball. He also suffered from occasional headaches. His school was considering holding him back a year. We started Vision Therapy that summer. After Four months of Vision Therapy, his peripheral vision opened up and his vision began to improve in his weaker eye. He was doing better on his bike. By the end of the fourth grade, he was up to third grade reading. His writing was also improving. What impressed me the most was how much the therapists cared. Kasey is starting sixth grade this fall and he has not had a migraine at all since we have been in vision therapy. He used to tilt his head when things got hard, now he remembers to use both eyes to see. He is gaining B’s & C’s in school and is participating in class. His reading is still improving and I know he will catch up. Vision Therapy has been absolutely wonderful for our son!

Chase had a hard time at school. He seemed smart but was bad at reading and school work. He had headaches. At his eye exam he was diagnosed with amblyopia (Lazy Eye) and exotropia (one of his eyes wandered outwards). Since Vision Therapy, his teachers have said “He’s a different boy! You’d not know him from when he was in 1st grade. It really helped him for the better.” Now he doesn’t trip over things, fall out of his desk, or lose things. Instead, he listens, follows directions, knows answers, is organized in and on his desk. He completes homework on time and has an easier time of it.

Before I started going to Vision Therapy, I never used to look people in the eyes when they were talking to me and vice versa. Now I feel more comfortable and have noticed I started looking people in the eyes without worrying about my lazy eye. I also notice my eye never gets lazy during the day-time. Before, sometimes it would just drift out of nowhere in the middle of the day. Now it rarely gets lazy, and when it does, I can feel it and I can fix it! I would highly recommend Vision Therapy for others.

Craig has not shown any indication of having a “lazy” eye since he has been working in Vision Therapy. Craig has always looked forward to his therapy. It’s encouraging to know that he finds it enjoyable. His vision has significantly improved, and so has his confidence!

At Rachel’s final vision therapy evaluation, she was seeing much better with her left eye than when she began. Also, both of her eyes were working together much better. These changes have contributed to Rachel’s improved disposition.

In softball, I make contact with the ball just about every time at bat! It is also easier to see smaller writing with my right eye. I think Vision Therapy is a great way to improve eyesight and teach your eyes to work together. I would like to say thanks to everyone who has worked with me during my therapy.