If your child has been fitted for glasses due to vision problems, it may be time to talk to the eye doctor for advice. In some cases, wearing eyeglasses may not be enough to help a child's vision so that he or she is better able to succeed in classroom studies and school work. Under an optometrist's recommendation and guidance, you might want to consider vision therapy for your child, or visual therapy, as it is sometimes referred to. If you are unfamiliar with the fundamentals of vision therapy, it may be time to educate yourself and learn more about the concept of this approach to vision problems.

Recognizing the Early Signs of Vision Problems

Perhaps you have suspected your child may have a vision problem. Maybe his or her teacher has also suspected this to be the case. Your school-aged child may be struggling to read assignments from the blackboard or having difficulty with reading.

Having a talk with your child's teacher may be a good idea. The next step should be to schedule an appointment with an optometrist, preferably one that specializes in pediatrics. The eye doctor may recommend vision therapy for your child.

What is Vision Therapy and What is the Primary Purpose?

Think of vision therapy as a form of physical therapy for the eyes. It typically includes various eye exercises with or without the use of visual aids and tools. For instance, an eye patch may be worn over one eye while performing certain eye exercises. In addition, some eye doctor's may utilize computer software programs to aid in the therapy sessions.

The main purpose or goal of vision therapy for your child to increase his or her visual dexterity. This may help improve nearsightedness as well as other visual issues such as lazy eye. To determine whether this approach will be beneficial for your child, you might want to give it a try. It is best performed under the supervision of an eye care professional.

What to Expect

Vision therapy often begins with some form of exercise for the eyes. However, orthoptic eye exercises will typically begin after your child has undergone a complete vision examination. After such an exam, the optometrist may or may not prescribe corrective eye wear for your child. If the eye doctor feels your child should undergo visual therapy as a supplement to prescription eyeglasses, what can you expect?

Simple eye exercises may begin in the doctor's office. The optometrist will demonstrate to your child how to perform these exercises. In addition, your child may be instructed to continue the eye exercises at home.

Your child may also be taught behavioral therapy techniques targeted at improving visual skills. This technique is sometimes referred to as perception vision therapy. The main objective of this therapy is to help your child interpret visual information in everyday life and process various colors, shapes and sizes. For instance, during these exercise sessions, your child may be taught how to easily distinguish various patterns, shapes and colors when viewing them partially obstructed or not in full view.

Going It Alone or in a Group

Many children who undergo vision therapy will have one-on-one attention from the optometrist or therapist. In some cases, however, group therapy in a classroom setting may also be utilized. Some parents may feel that individualized therapy is the best approach for their child, while others may prefer a group setting where children may be with their peers for added support. Either way, computer software lessons designed for visual therapy purposes may be integrated into the program, so ask about this option as well.

For more information, consider looking into the websites of local optometrists that offer this service, such as http://www.absolutevisioncare.com.

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