“What exactly is Vision Therapy?” is a question I am often asked while discussing my career. To be honest, I had never heard of the field until I saw a job post for a Vision Therapist position and went in for an interview. I was instantly impressed with the practice and the passion that each doctor and staff had for their patients. Each person at that office loved what they did and I was very excited to be involved. Having a degree in psychology, I wanted a career where I could work hands on with people and change lives. This career has been just that.
I always liked the description of Vision Therapy as “physical therapy for your eyes”. We re-train the brain to get both eyes working together more efficiently to improve the visual system. By practicing specific activities, using lenses, prisms, balance rails, Marsden balls, and so much more, we are setting up an environment where our brain learns how the eyes should react in real life scenarios. We are also using the optical tools to challenge the brain to adapt to more challenging scenarios. The brain is incredibly adaptable and giving patients the opportunity to improve their symptoms by re-training their brain without surgery is something I am very proud to be a part of.
Throughout my career, I have worked under different Optometrists and each one provides a unique approach that only allows you to grow as a therapist. I have worked with so many different patients and I carry each experience and trick I’ve learned along the way. The most rewarding patients for me are the individuals who come in on their first day of therapy thinking they are just not smart. That their whole life they have been labeled as stupid and that is how they will continue to function. Their transformations are often life changing and suddenly they have the confidence to try things they never thought possible. All along their visual system had to work so hard that information processing was difficult under those conditions. I have seen patients skeptical of their capabilities and one day coming in with a huge smile with a report card of A’s. Each success story of a patient is based off of their hard work and dedication to practicing their skills.
While these changes don’t happen overnight, the more attention on the exercises provided, the quicker symptoms will start to disappear. I really enjoy watching patients improve with things they didn’t realize had any effect on their eyes, such as handwriting, carsickness, headaches, attention, reversing letters, and memory. Tracking, depth perception, eye alignment, and eye-hand coordination is only a part of what I have seen Vision Therapy improve for patients.
Vision Therapy is continuing to grow as more people are realizing the benefits for both children and adults. I hope to one day have this field be as known as Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. Until then I will continue answering “what is Vision Therapy” and telling my stories of what this field can do for people.
Written by: Amy Hoffman, COVT