Development
Almost everyone is born with the potential for good vision. Good vision is the ability to identify, interpret, and understand what is seen. Good vision is developed and learned. Gross to fine motor control evolves in vision development, just as in learning to walk (gross motor) and to write (fine motor).

Visual performance depends on previously developed visual skills. An infant will learn to smoothly follow a moving target with their eyes before they can accurately change focus from near to far.  If one of these important steps is skipped or incomplete in development then visually demanding activities like writing, reading, and reading comprehension, may be difficult and result in frustration and underachievement.

Intelligent and motivated people can succeed having a visual deficit, however this results in wasted energy, extra effort, and needless stress. The person basically learns to compensate for their visual deficit

At Our Vision Development Center
We strive to help our patients with visual deficits to learn to manage their visual world by developing good visual skills. This includes enabling both eyes to move smoothly and accurately and to together as a team. We provide a comfortable, positive environment where we encourage our patients to reach their full potential.

First, we recommend a complete comprehensive eye examination to determine e health and whether any correction is necessary (glasses or contact lenses). If the examination and patient history reveals a problem related to a visual deficit, we would recommend an extended sensorimotor examination.

Our specialized sensorimotor examination includes a thorough evaluation of:

Vision Therapy
Vision Therapy can/does develop and enhance visual and visual perceptual skills. This may be recommended as a treatment option available to you. In our Vision Development Center each course of treatment will be individualized according to the particular patient's needs and goals. We work together as a team; the developmental optometrist, vision therapist, and the patient. We emphasize strengthening any weak areas indicated in the Sensorimotor exam. Therapeutic activities are prescribed, and each patient has the opportunity to use state of the art equipment. During the course of treatment, each patient is carefully monitored. We inform each patient of their progress at each visit. Home activities are planned to compliment our in-office therapy sessions and are an important part of our program.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, they may indicate that you may have a vision problem:

Physical Clues

• Red, sore or itching eyes
• Jerky eye movements, one eye turning in or out
• Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking
• Blurred or double vision
• Headaches, dizziness, or nausea after reading
• Head tilting, closing or blocking one eye when reading

Performance Clues

• Avoidance of near work
• Frequent loss of place
• Omits, inserts, or rereads letters/words
• Confuses similar looking words
• Failure to recognize the same word in the next sentence
• Letter or word reversals after second grade
• Difficulty copying from the chalkboard
• Poor handwriting, misaligns numbers
• Book held too close to the eyes
• Inconsistent or poor sports performance

Secondary Symptoms

• Smart in everything but school
• Low self-esteem, poor self image
• Temper flare ups, aggressiveness
• Frequent crying
• Short attention span
• Fatigue, frustration, stress
• Irritability
• Day dreaming

Labeled

• Lazy
• Dyslexic
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Slow learner
• Behavioral problem
• Juvenile deliquent
• Working below potential

For Further Information concerning the prevention, early detection and correction of learning related visual problems, please feel free to contact our office at: 803-781-2212