Children and adults alike can benefit from vision therapy. It's a term commonly used by optometrists to describe the science of achieving a clear, comfortable vision. Vision therapy aims to develop your visual skills and abilities, as well as improve your visual comfort, ease, and efficiency.


The process also attempts to change the processing and interpretation of visual information. Do you think vision therapy can help you? Here are the common signs of functional vision problems:

 

• Observable Traits. Some symptoms are easy to spot. These include lazy or crossed eyes, burning or itching eyes, and excessive blinking or squinting. Other behaviors that may suggest you or someone you know may need vision therapy are headaches in the temples or forehead, poor hand-eye coordination, and posture problems. If you also frequently tilt your head to one side or place your head close to a book while reading, it may be that you have a vision problem. Other indicators include clumsiness or issues moving in space and difficulty throwing or catching airborne objects.
  
   

• Behavior-Related. Other evident manifestations of functional vision problems include nausea, motion sickness, blurry vision, and double vision. If you notice that you have a short attention span or show a low frustration level, then it's advisable to check with your eye doctor. The same goes for when you feel nervous, irritable, or easily fatigued while doing close work like reading.
  
   

• Work Skills. For many children with vision problems, their ability to learn is affected. For adults, their visual challenges impact their work skills. You may need vision therapy if you hold a book or other objects unusually close. Other signs include twisting your head to favor one eye or repeatedly confusing right and left directions. If you also tend to use your finger to read or lose your place when reading, then it's time to speak with a specialist. Other indicators of functional vision problems include trouble remembering what you've read and difficulties with handwriting. 

How Vision Therapy Can Help

Vision therapy is like physical therapy. However, instead of working with your joints and muscles, your doctor focuses on improving the communication between your eyes and brain. This is achieved by tailoring a customized treatment program for strengthening your visual system. It aims to enhance your ability to read, focus, and all other aspects required for academic or work performance. 

Vision therapy can treat a wide range of problems that eyeglasses cannot. These include deficits in eye teaming, eye tracking, and visual perception, among others. Every patient is unique. But vision therapy is often recommended as a treatment option for people with a lazy eye, crossed eyes, or binocular vision problems. Vision therapy may also help with issues related to eye movement, focusing, and eye fatigue. Additionally, this treatment program can also address challenges derived from traumatic brain injury or stroke. 

Do you think your eyes aren't performing properly? For more on vision therapy, visit West Texas Eyecare at our office in Pecos, Texas. Call (432) 445-3662 today to schedule an appointment.