Wow Vision Therapy Blog
From Reading Struggles to Strengths: The Art and Science at Wow Vision Therapy
Reading is a foundational skill that shapes academic success, confidence, and lifelong learning. However, for many individuals—both children and adults—persistent struggles with reading are not due to a lack of effort but rather undiagnosed vision problems affecting eye coordination and/or visual processing. These issues can lead to a host of reading problems, including frequent letter reversals beyond age seven, difficulty with attention and concentration, and even poor handwriting. Understanding and addressing these challenges with comprehensive visual testing and patient focused, evidence-based vision therapy is key to unlocking potential.
The Role of Eye Coordination and Visual Processing in Reading
Reading requires precise and efficient visual coordination. The eyes must work together to track across lines of text, focus accurately, and process visual information rapidly. When visual coordination abilities are underdeveloped or impaired, words can double, blur and/or move on the page. Reading then can become frustrating and labor-intensive. Layered on to this can be visual processing deficits which may include:
- Visual Discrimination – Difficulty distinguishing between similar letters or words
- Visual Memory – Trouble remembering sight words or recognizing words previously learned.
- Visual-Spatial Relationships – Difficulty understanding letter orientation, leading to frequent reversals, confusing b’s and d’s or p’s and q’s.
- Visual Sequential Memory – Struggles with reading comprehension, spelling and efficient copying ability.
- Visual Figure-Ground – Difficulty recognizing words within a paragraph of text, leading to slow reading speed and fluency.
These visual deficits not only make reading difficult but can also impact attention, comprehension, and even fine motor skills like handwriting.
Comprehensive Visual Evaluation: Looking Beyond 20/20 Vision
A standard eye exam assessing only eye health and visual acuity (20/20 eyesight) is not enough to identify functional vision issues. A comprehensive visual evaluation should include:
- Binocular Vision Testing – Assessing how well the eyes work together.
- Accommodation Evaluation (Eye Focusing) – Evaluating the ability to shift focus between distances efficiently.
- Oculomotor Function (Eye Tracking) – Measuring how well the eyes track across a page, especially saccadic eye movements essential for reading fluency.
- Visual Processing Assessment – Analyzing visual processing performance that supports reading and learning.
Without this level of detailed evaluation, vision-related reading difficulties can go undiagnosed, leading to misinterpretations such as labeling a child as having attention difficulties or a learning disability when the root cause is actually a vision problem.
Vision Therapy: The Science and Art of Transforming Visual Skills
Once a vision-related reading problem is identified, the most effective treatment is office-based optometric vision therapy. This treatment involves structured, evidence-based activities guided by highly trained and experienced Doctors and Vision Therapists in developmental vision and rehabilitation. At Wow Vision Therapy, treatment is NOT eye exercises—it is a personalized neurodevelopmental and rehabilitation program designed to develop coordination and control of the eyes to better acquire, process and then more effectively interpret visual information for reading and learning.
Using a sports analogy, consider an aspiring athlete who wants to excel in basketball. Practicing general fitness exercises is helpful, but true progress comes from working with a skilled coach who provides sport-specific drills and strategies tailored to the athlete’s individual needs. Likewise, vision therapy at Wow Vision Therapy involves targeted visual challenges/activities that ensure meaningful progress in vision development associated with the patient’s quality of life goals.
From Diagnosis to Transformation:
At Wow Vision Therapy, we believe that achieving the best outcomes in vision rehabilitation requires both scientific expertise and an artistic touch. Every patient is unique, and so is their therapy. By tailoring treatment to their personal experiences, interests, and daily challenges, we empower children and adults to not only visually function better but also live better.
For those experiencing difficulty with reading, frequent letter reversals, trouble with attention, or poor handwriting, the first step is a comprehensive vision evaluation. If a vision-related problem is detected, office-based vision therapy with one of our highly experienced Doctors and vision therapists can provide a life-changing solution.
At Wow Vision Therapy, we are dedicated to unlocking each patient’s full potential—merging science with the art of individualized care that transfers the best results to our patient’s lives!
Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FOVDR