What is Vision Therapy and Who Can It Help?
Many people mistakenly believe that optometric vision therapy (OVT) is focused on strengthening the muscles that control eye movement. In reality, these muscles are already incredibly strong. Instead, developmental optometrists prescribe OVT to enhance the connection between the brain and the eyes. This relationship determines how effectively we process and respond to visual information, impacting skills such as eye tracking, focusing, and depth perception.
While visual acuity—the clarity of sight commonly referred to as "20/20 vision"—relates to the physical attributes of the eyeball and can be improved with glasses, contacts, or surgery, visual performance skills are different. These skills develop during childhood and can sometimes be compromised due to developmental delays, injuries, or neurological conditions. Fortunately, they can be strengthened or even re-learned at any age through targeted vision therapy.
In this article, the experts at Nationwide Vision will explore the benefits of vision therapy, the conditions it can address, and how it may help individuals achieve their best possible vision.
What Conditions Can Vision Therapy Address?
Vision therapy improves visual performance skills by leveraging neuroplasticity1—the brain's ability to adapt and form new neural connections. Through repetitive, targeted activities, vision therapy strengthens the connection between the brain and the eyes. This improvement enhances everyday activities like reading, writing, driving, maintaining balance, and excelling in sports.
Common indicators of poor visual performance skills include challenges focusing, frequent headaches, squinting, blurry or double vision, and poor eye-hand coordination. Additional symptoms may include light sensitivity, dizziness, imbalance, eyestrain, or the frequent need to cover one eye. Left unaddressed, these issues can negatively impact daily life and productivity.
Studies estimate that one in ten children experiences vision performance issues significant enough to interfere with their learning in school. A comprehensive evaluation by a developmental optometrist can assess visual skills and uncover any underlying problems. Identifying and addressing these issues early helps ensure children are equipped for success both in and out of the classroom.
Who Can Benefit from Vision Therapy?
Modern research has shown that neuroplasticity is present at any age, meaning vision therapy can be effective for both children and adults. This adaptability allows individuals to strengthen or regain visual skills no matter their stage of life.
For children, vision therapy often focuses on developmental or functional visual challenges that can impact their ability to learn and thrive. Conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (misaligned eyes), and convergence insufficiency (difficulty focusing on nearby objects) are commonly treated through specialized exercises and techniques. Early intervention is especially critical, as it supports proper visual development during formative years. Vision therapy can also help children who face difficulties with reading, writing, or paying attention in school due to visual performance issues.
Adults can also see significant improvements through vision therapy. Many adults seek treatment to recover from brain injuries, such as those caused by concussions or strokes, which often result in visual dysfunction. Long-standing issues like double vision or strabismus that were untreated in childhood can also be corrected through therapy. For those who spend long hours on digital screens, vision therapy offers relief from eye strain and fatigue. Additionally, older adults experiencing vision changes related to aging can benefit from exercises that maintain focus, tracking ability, and overall visual independence.
What is Involved in Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy programs are carefully designed to address specific visual challenges through a combination of structured in-office sessions and guided at-home exercises. Spanning several weeks or months, these programs are personalized to meet the unique needs of everyone. A variety of specialized tools and techniques are used to enhance visual performance and coordination. Some of the key elements of vision therapy include:
Specialized Lenses and Filters: Vision therapy often employs lenses and filters to improve focusing ability, adjust visual perception, and reduce visual stress. These tools may help retrain the eyes to work together effectively or improve clarity, enabling smoother and more efficient visual processing.
Prisms: Prisms are used to shift the perception of space, allowing the brain and eyes to adapt to new visual inputs. These tools are especially effective in treating conditions like strabismus (eye misalignment) or convergence insufficiency, where alignment and focus require improvement.
Eye Exercises: Guided exercises are designed to strengthen specific visual skills such as eye tracking, focusing, and teaming. These activities train the eyes to coordinate more effectively and help the brain process visual information with greater accuracy.
Sensory Integration Techniques: These techniques connect visual skills with other sensory and motor functions, enhancing coordination between vision, balance, and movement. These techniques are particularly beneficial for athletes looking to optimize performance or individuals recovering from brain injuries.
Balance Boards and Coordination Tools: Physical tools, such as balance boards, are often incorporated to strengthen the connection between vision and physical movement. By improving spatial awareness and visual-motor integration, these activities help reinforce overall coordination and control.
Computer-Based Activities: Many vision therapy programs incorporate digital exercises or interactive games that provide real-time feedback to train the visual system. These activities are engaging for children and highly effective for adults working to address more complex visual challenges.
What is Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation?
With over half of the brain’s circuits dedicated to vision, it’s no surprise that brain injuries can significantly impact visual skills2. Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is an evolving specialty within optometry that integrates vision therapy into the recovery process for individuals with neurological conditions. This innovative approach supports patients as they work to regain lost visual function and improve overall quality of life.
A neuro-optometrist specializes in diagnosing and treating visual dysfunctions caused by conditions such as concussions, strokes, and neurotrauma. These professionals are an integral part of interdisciplinary medical teams, collaborating with neurologists, therapists, and other healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive care for patients with brain injuries.
Athletes recovering from concussions frequently turn to neuro-optometrists to address visual impairments and assess readiness to return to play. For instance, convergence testing, which evaluates the eyes’ ability to work together, provides an objective measure of recovery progress. Similarly, stroke survivors often benefit from neuro-optometric rehabilitation, as it helps restore vision and fosters independence in daily activities. This field continues to grow as more medical professionals recognize the vital role optometry plays in neurological rehabilitation.
Is There Research Supporting Vision Therapy?
Vision therapy is backed by extensive, evidence-based scientific research3, though it remains relatively underrecognized in the field of eye care. Studies highlight its effectiveness in addressing a variety of visual challenges, including convergence insufficiency—a condition affecting the ability of the eyes to work together on close tasks. This condition impacts at least 5% of school-aged children, representing approximately 3.8 million kids4, and around 2% of adults, equating to 5 million people.
In addition to these figures, over 2.1 million adults experience brain injuries annually, with many developing vision dysfunctions as a result. When compared to the prevalence of other common eye conditions, such as glaucoma (affecting 2.7 million people) and dry eye syndrome (impacting 4.9 million), the need for vision therapy becomes even clearer. Ongoing research continues to support its value in improving visual performance and quality of life for people of all ages.
What is Sports Vision Training?
Vision therapy principles extend beyond treatment and rehabilitation; they are also used to elevate athletic performance through sports vision training. This specialized form of therapy enhances visual skills such as reaction time, depth perception, and hand-eye coordination, pushing an athlete’s abilities beyond their current baseline.
Rather than addressing specific conditions, sports vision training is designed to optimize the visual system, much like personal training for the eyes. By refining visual performance, athletes gain a competitive edge in their sport, whether they’re aiming for faster reflexes or better tracking of moving objects. To find out more about this fast-growing specialty in optometry, go to the International Sports Vision Association.
Rehabilitate and Enhance Your Vision with Nationwide Vision
Vision therapy offers a non-invasive and highly effective way to address a range of visual challenges, from enhancing eye coordination to aiding recovery after injury. Whether you’re seeking assistance for your child’s learning-related visual difficulties or exploring solutions for your own needs, vision therapy provides personalized care designed to meet individual challenges. By improving the connection between the brain and the eyes, vision therapy can help transform the way you see and interact with the world, enhancing your overall quality of life.
At Nationwide Vision, we are dedicated to supporting your vision health with expert, compassionate care. Our skilled optometrists are here to assess your unique needs, explain how vision therapy can benefit you, and create a customized plan tailored to your goals.
Take the first step toward clearer, more efficient vision today. Contact Nationwide Vision to schedule a consultation and discover whether vision therapy is right for you or your loved ones. Together, we’ll work toward achieving your best possible vision and a brighter future.
References
Felleman DJ1, Van Essen DC. Cereb Cortex. 1991 Jan-Feb;1(1):1-47.
Scheiman M, Mitchell GL, et al. Vis Dev Rehabil. 2015;1(3):214-228.