Wow Vision Therapy Blog

For the patient who suffers from the symptoms of double vision, headaches, fatigue and poor reading performance due to a binocular vision problem like convergence insufficiency,åÊnow there is scientific proof that office-based vision therapy is the only viable and effective treatment.åÊWhenåÊcompared to all of the other commonlyåÊprescribed treatments recommended by doctors in the past, research has now proven that office-based therapy is effective but, pencil push-up eye exercises or computer based home therapy (used alone) are no better than a placebo.

Yes, office-based vision therapyåÊis effective because IT IS NOT eye exercises.åÊWhy?

To understand the difference, one must understand that vision problems such asåÊpoor binocular control (like convergence insufficiency), accommodation problems (poor eye focusing),åÊoculomotoråÊdysfunction (poor eye tracking), problems in visual processing or visual motor integration (eye-hand coordination) are not typically problems with muscle weakness.

A childåÊthat has double vision when reading is not having that problem because their eyeåÊmuscles are too weak to turn their eyes inåÊthe orbit.åÊIf you think ofåÊany personåÊwith doubleåÊvision like a “computer”, the problem is not with the “hardware” (eye muscles), the problem exists inåÊthe “software” (the brain). The visual problem is a “brain coordination problem”åÊnot an eye muscle weakness problem.

Thus exercising eyes or eye muscles is no more effective in learning binocular “two-eyed” vision skill than exercising ones fingers in an attempt to learn how to play the piano. Doing finger exercises will not result in becoming a piano virtuoso. The same is true with eye exercises and vision.

Office-based vision therapy is effective because it IS NOT eye exercises. Office-based vision therapy is a process of helping the patient to develop the “brain skills” for proper binocular vision (and much more). This brain skill is a learned ability that, once learned, is like riding a bike…it is not forgotten.

The results of a successfulåÊoffice-based vision therapy treatment programis that the patient will learn proper vision skills and enjoy the lifelong benefit of good binocular vision, symptom free and more productive and competent in the rigorous visual demands of school and work.

Dan L. Fortenbacher, O.D., FCOVD