The doctors and staff at our Centers for Visual Learning and Rehabilitative Therapy are pleased to join with the National PTA in its encouragement of a visual skills screening for all school-age children and youth. A resolution adopted at the National PTA Convention in June, 1999 partially states:
"....Be it resolved that the National PTA, through its constituent organizations, urges schools to include in their vision screening program testing for learning-related visual skills necessary for success in the classroom."
20/20 Eyesight is Not 20/20 Vision
Good eyesight is the ability to see clearly; good vision is the ability to identify, interpret, comprehend and act on what is seen. One’s eyesight may test normal on standard eye charts; yet, an individual’s visual skills may be significantly impaired. These impairments can range from simple refractive (eyeglass) conditions, to more complex problems of eye coordination (visual efficiency), to the processing of visual information (visual perceptual skills). Doctors Vision Center’s developmental optometrists have received special training and certification to deal with these complex visual dysfunctions.
Learning-Related Vision Problems
Children know only what they see, not what they are supposed to see. Naturally, they think everyone perceives the world as they do. To children with learning-related vision problems, this can cause a significant learning impediment. School performance often suffers, despite the fact they seem to be physically and intellectually normal in other ways. Parents of such children are often frustrated in their search for an answer as to why their child is not performing up to his/her potential in the classroom. Visual skills not corrected during youth will not improve with maturity alone.
Computer Related Vision Problems
The shift to computers has engaged a growing number of workers in prolonged, near-vision tasks. Computer Vision Syndrome is the term used for eye problems that develop secondary to computer use. The result is a constant stress on the visual system, producing symptoms and eye problems.
Sports-Related Vision Problems
When an athlete trains, he/she concentrates on aerobic capacity, endurance, strength, muscle tone and flexibility. However, developmental optometrists, coaches, and trainers believe you should train your vision as well. The stamina, flexibility and fine tuning of one’s visual system can sometimes provide the split second timing needed to truly excel at a chosen sport. Even if a vision prescription is not required, visual skills may need to still be enhanced through other methods.
Symptoms and Physical Clues That Indicate A Developmental Vision Evaluation Is Needed:
- Poor acuity and focusing ability
- Exhibits an eye turn
- Double vision
- Omits, inserts or rereads words
- Poor eye tracking abilities
- Headaches
- Fatigue and eyestrain when reading
- Holds material too close when reading
- Loses place when reading
- Avoids close work
- Careless errors, poor copying skills
- Confuses similar words
- Reverses letters/numbers after age 8
- Poor reading comprehension
- Sloppy handwriting
- Poor concentration/attention/memory skills
- Does not recognize same word on next page
- Lacks knowledge of right/left direction
Brain Injury/Stroke-Related Vision Problems
The visual system is represented in every major lobe of the brain, as well as the midbrain and brainstem, therefore; neurological compromise, whether acquired traumatic brain injury or stroke), congenital (Down’s syndrome or cerebral palsy), or degenerative (Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis), frequently affects the visual system. Compromise in the visual system can lead not only to eye movement and coordination disorders, decreased detail vision, and blind spots; it can also lead to difficulty integrating visual information with movement and balance, as well as difficulty interpreting and attending to visual stimuli.
Symptoms and Physical Clues That Indicate A Neurological Vision Evaluation Is Needed:
- Dry eye/decreased blink rate
- Visual field loss
- Sensitivity to light
- Leans back on heels, forward, or to one side when walking, standing or seated
- Spatial disorientation
- Poor depth perception
- Poor visualization skills
- Decreased peripheral awareness
Low Vision Rehabilitation
Many people who have a low vision problem are unable to read ordinary print or watch TV, even with conventional spectacles or contact lenses. Others have a narrow field of view, like looking through a tube. Low vision problems range from legal blindness to any visual impairment, which limits daily activities. Obtaining optometric low vision care is an important step to help maximize the use of remaining vision. Low vision optometric aids range from simple magnifying lenses to sophisticated lens systems that provide magnification or field enlargement. Low vision aids do not restore sight, but help to use remaining sight more effectively.
Our Mission
The Center for Visual Learning and Rehabilitative Therapy strives to provide patients of all ages and visual conditions technologically advanced services which restore the necessary visual skills that allow one the opportunity to lead a productive and fulfilling life. The partnership established between patient, vision therapist and developmental optometrist creates the perfect environment to eliminate vision discomfort and distortion, regain visual skills lost through accident or neurological insult, enhance learning capability and ultimately give one hope and the possibility to succeed.
What is Optometric Vision Therapy?
Optometric Vision Therapy is a treatment process used to improve visual function. It includes a broad range of developmental and rehabilitative treatment programs individually prescribed by developmental optometrists* to remediate specific sensory motor and/or visual perceptual dysfunctions. Therapeutic lenses, prisms, filters, occlusion and specialized equipment are used in the treatment process. Therapy sessions are conducted on a weekly basis and may range from as few as 12 sessions upwards to 50 or more sessions.
* All Doctors Vision Center’s developmental optometrists are certified by the national board of The College of Optometrists in Vision Development
Visual Learning offices in North Carolina
Pinehurst
Dr. Nancy Mackowsky, OD, FCOVD
Director: Matthew Privette, B.A., COVT
160 Fox Hollow
(910) 692-3937 Ext. 226
Raleigh
Dr. Nancy Mackowsky, OD, FCOVD
Director: Eleanor Privette, B.A.
3905 New Bern Ave.
(919) 231-3289
Wilmington
Dr. Tracey Glendenning, O.D. FCOVD
Director: Patty Connor
201 Racine Dr.
(910) 395-6050
Cary
Dr. Susan Durham, OD, FCOVD
Director: Alma Privette, COVT
1398 Kildaire Farm Road
(919) 467-4248
Visit the following web sites for more information on the benefits of vision therapy:
http://www.covd.org
http://www.oep.org
http://www.visiontherapy.org
http://www.vision3D.com
http://www.optometrists.org
http://www.add-adhd.org
http://visiontherapystories.org
http://www.childrensvision.com
http://www.braininjuries.org
