Vision therapy is often recommended by vision specialists in an attempt to coordinate the communication and function between the eyes and the brain and between one eye and another. The non-invasive therapy is commonly helpful for focus issues related to convergence insufficiency, crossed eyes, double vision or lazy eye. Patients have access to online software programs through licensed optometrists or ophthalmologists who subscribe to various types of vision therapy software as an alternative to conventional therapeutic tools.
What Vision Therapy Entails
The software contains a comprehensive program of various visual exercises that are progressive in nature. The exercises are designed to alter the way the brain and the eyes view, process and interpret visual information. After performing a session, the program stores the information for each patient in order for physicians to obtain a baseline assessment and monitor progress on a weekly basis.
The exercises are customized to accommodate individual client needs. Patients use the software in the vision clinic once or twice a week for 30 to 60 minutes sessions. Some programs may allow patient to have in-home access. Depending on a client's diagnosis, they might additionally receive instructions to perform conventional exercises at home to enhance correction.
Amblyopia
More commonly known as lazy eye, the condition is one that benefits from online vision therapy especially designed for the diagnosis. Under the supervision of an eye specialist, a patient accesses a computer program at home or at the vision clinic.
In conjunction with wearing a patch, patients might also be encouraged to play video games for a designated amount of time each day to strengthen the focusing capability of the weakened eye. In the case of young patients, coloring pages and maze-type puzzles are also helpful in distracting children from the awkwardness of wearing a patch.
Convergence Insufficiency
The condition involves the inability of both eyes to converge or focus together on an object at close range. Traditional exercises to correct the problem include techniques known as “dotted cards,” “jump convergence” and “pencil push-ups.” These are typically homework exercises performed daily for 15 minutes. With the introduction of online vision therapy, patients may also engage in 60-minute weekly sessions on computer-based programs in a clinician's office or at home. Depending on the severity of the diagnosis, patients often experience improvement after 12-weekly sessions. Research indicates that vision problems in children benefit more from homework exercises combined with online vision therapy compared to using traditional methods alone.
