VisionLink – New learning through sight
Vision Link Behavioural Optometrists provide research based treatment for convergence insufficiency, oculomotor dysfunction, spelling and reading problems, dyslexia, attention deficit disorders, Asperger's, Learning Related Vision Disabilities, migraine and brain injuries. We are uniquely positioned to assist Visual Perception through the use of Vision Therapy, Irlen tinted lenses and Cellfield Intervention.
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What is Optometric Vision Therapy (OVT) ?
Optometric Vision Therapy is a well proven and carefully structured process of improving a person's Visual Skills so that they can become more visually efficient.
This typically results in improved comfort and confidence.
OVT is rooted in years of experience and research-based development.
It includes, but is not limited to, the treatment of Strabismus, Amblyopia, Accommodation, Ocular Motor function and visual-perceptual-motor abilities.
The problems we treat are often a lifetime barrier to learning and performance. The issue tends to run in families and is not currently identified by other standard educational or medical tests.
How is Optometric Vision Therapy (OVT) done ?
Our treatments vary according to the problems diagnosed in a person's Visual Skills.
Following diagnosis of a weakness in specific Visual Skills, an individual Management & Treatment Plan is prepared and auctioned.
Some techniques are surprisingly simple and low-tech while others use the very latest in computer-driven stimulation of Visual Perception.
We use Therapeutic spectacle lenses, Prisms, Filters, Occluders (pirate patches), Electronic targets with timing mechanisms and Balance boards
What skills are Optometric Vision Therapy designed to assist?
- The ability to follow a moving object smoothly, accurately and effortlessly with both eyes and at the same time think, talk, read or listen without losing alignment of eyes. This pursuit ability is used to follow a ball or a person, to guide a pencil while writing, to read words on a scrolling banner, etc.
- The ability to fix the eyes upon a series of stationary objects quickly and accurately, with both eyes, and at the same time know what each object is; a skill used to read words from left to right, add columns of numbers, read maps, etc.
- The ability to change focus quickly, without blur, from far to near and from near to far, over and over, effortlessly and at the same time look for meaning and obtain understanding from the symbols or objects seen. This ability is used to copy from the board, to watch the road ahead and check the speedo, to read a book and watch TV across the room, etc.
- The ability to team two eyes together. This skill should work so well that no interference exists between the two eyes that can result in having to suppress or mentally block information from one eye or the other. This shutting off of information to one eye lowers understanding and speed, increases fatigue and distractibility, and shortens attention span. Proper teaming permits efficient vision to emerge and learning to occur.
- The ability to see over a large area (in the periphery) while pointing the eyes straight ahead. For safety, self-confidence and to read rapidly, a person needs to see "the big picture," to know easily where they are on a page while reading and to take in large amounts of information, i.e., a large number of words per look.
- The ability to see and know (recognize) in a short look. Efficient vision is dependent on the ability to see rapidly, to see and know an object, people or words in a very small fraction of a second. The less time required to see, the faster the reading and thinking.
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The ability to see in depth. A child should be able to throw a beanbag into a hat 10 feet away, to judge the visual distance and control the arm movements needed. An adult needs to see and judge how far it is to the curb, make accurate visual decisions about the speed and distances of other cars to be safe
Our Optometric Vision Therapy Testimonials Click here
On-line videos about Optometric Vision Therapy
Research on Therapy for Visually-Based Reading Disability Click here
Optometrists Network resources about Vision Therapy Click here
Is it really Attention Deficit Disorder? Vision Problem?
Information on Vision and Brain Injuries
Info on Children's Visual Problems
NEI/Mayo Clinic Research Proves Vision Therapy is Best Treatment
It's Not Too Late to Detect and Treat Lazy Eye
About Vision and Learning Disabilities