If you have binocular vision abnormalities, strabismus, convergence insufficiency, or amblyopia, you are not alone. Any of these can affect your daily activities, making simple tasks like reading, focusing, and eye coordination difficult. For help with these ailments, you can turn to vision therapy.

 

Vision therapy tries to develop and improve various visual skills. These include movement control, focus, and coordination. Though linked with kids, it can also help adults with specific visual disorders. Here are a few of the ailments that vision therapy can help with.

 

Amblyopia
 

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is where one eye has reduced vision despite the lack of structural damage. Vision therapy engages the weaker eye in targeted exercises and activities. It strengthens the neural connections between the eyes and improves visual acuity.

 

Vision therapy for amblyopia often involves fun and interactive activities using the weaker eye, such as:

 

• Playing visual games

• Engaging in eye-hand coordination exercises

• Using special eye patches or filters
  
   

These activities help stimulate the brain and promote binocular vision. This allows you to see clearly with both eyes working together. 

 

Strabismus

Strabismus, or crossed eyes, results from misaligned eyes. The eyes may point in various directions. Vision therapy improves eye alignment and coordination, helping the eyes work together.

It uses specialized exercises to train the muscles that control eye movements. This promotes better alignment and coordination. These activities may include focusing, tracking, and convergence exercises. 

Convergence Insufficiency 

This is where the eyes have difficulty working together when focusing on objects. This leads to symptoms such as eyestrain, double vision, and difficulty reading. Vision therapy can be an effective treatment option for this condition. 

It aims to improve the coordination and flexibility of the eye muscles used for near vision. Therapy includes activities focusing on near objects while maintaining eye alignment and coordination. 

Binocular Vision Disorders

BVD describes eyes that do not function as a cohesive team. BVD causes double vision, eye discomfort, and trouble seeing in depth. Vision therapy aims to improve the coordination and teamwork of the eyes.

Treatment includes activities that challenge the eyes to work together effectively. The activities may involve focusing, tracking, and other visual tasks requiring the eyes to work harmoniously.

Traumatic Brain Injury 

A jolt or blow to the head can cause a TBI, an injury to the brain. Several physical, mental, and visual symptoms can result from this. For people with TBI, vision therapy may help them regain their visual abilities. Its objectives include strengthening the visual system and enhancing visual processing skills.

 

Treatment includes a comprehensive evaluation of the visual system to identify visual deficits. The eye doctor develops a customized vision therapy program based on the results. This may include activities to improve the following:

• Eye coordination

• Visual tracking

• Visual memory

• Visual processing speed
  
   

Conclusion

Vision therapy can benefit several visual disorders. Targeted exercises improve visual function, eye alignment, coordination, and teamwork. This leads to better visual outcomes and reduced symptoms. It can successfully treat people of all ages. Young people are easy to treat with direction from an eye doctor.

For more on vision therapy, visit Mid-Modern Eyecare at our Midland, Michigan office. Call (989) 486-3025 to schedule an appointment today.