Do I Need Vision Therapy? 

Did you know that vision therapy not only helps children perform better in the classroom but can also help adults perform better on the job? Mental fatigue, a short attention span, and difficulty concentrating are just a few of the problems that develop when you experience functional vision problems. 

Unlike visual acuity, which has to do with how clearly you can see, functional vision encompasses a range of mental tasks that you use every day in the workplace. Read on as an Oxnard, CA optometrist discusses what functional vision problems are, why they’re often overlooked, and how vision therapy can help. 

Vision Problems That Often Go Unnoticed

Standard eye exams measure visual acuity, which makes certain eye conditions, such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness easy to detect and treat. Unfortunately, standard exams don’t measure other important aspects of vision.

Your eyes work as part of a visual system that includes the brain. In fact, your eyes are responsible for converting light and images into a form that your brain can understand and interpret. Their ability to do this depends on a range of factors besides acuity, including:

• How well your eyes work together as a team
• How well they track text or data across a page
• Their ability to focus

When one or more of these abilities is lacking, your brain has to work that much harder to interpret what your eyes see. If you spend much of your day working on a computer or reading, these types of deficiencies can affect your ability to concentrate, learn, your mental endurance, and your memory, and can even cause eyestrain and frequent headaches. 

What Is Vision Therapy and What Does It Do?

Vision therapy is a specialized branch of optometry that focuses on helping your eyes and brain work together to process visual information more efficiently.

It uses a structured treatment approach that works to retrain your visual system. Treatment interventions focus on the following areas:

• Visual processing speed
• Eye tracking skills
• Visual perception
• Eye teaming skills
• Eye focusing
• Visual reaction speed

Specialized lenses, computer-based activities, and eye exercises are some of the tools used in vision therapy. An optometrist trained in this field will conduct a comprehensive eye exam to determine your particular treatment needs. 

Vision Therapy Benefits

• Longer attention span
• Reduce or even eliminate eye strain
• Improved focus and concentration
• Relief from headaches
• Mental endurance

If you have more questions about vision therapy or wish to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to call our Oxnard, CA optometry office today.