Dr. Susan Durham

Dr. Durham attended Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY and graduated cum laude with a BA in Biology and a minor in German Language. During her senior year at Ithaca, she studied abroad at the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, Austria. In 1989, she received her Doctor of Optometry degree and Bachelor of Science in Visual Sciences from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia where she graduated in the top 10% of her class. In addition, she received awards for Clinical Excellence and Outstanding Scholarship. She is a member of the Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society and Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Fraternity. In 1995, Dr. Durham was selected by Rotary International to be a member of a four-person group study exchange team for a one-month assignment in the Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions of Italy. Originally from Medford, NY, Dr. Durham practices full scope primary care optometry with special interests in developmental vision and rehabilitative optometry. She has been in private practice in North Carolina since 1989. Dr. Durham has also worked in close association with the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf and welcomes hearing impaired patients. In October 1998, Dr. Durham completed all of the requirements to earn her Fellowship in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). Members of COVD are optometrists who specialize in working with patients experiencing difficulties in the areas of binocular vision, focusing, eye tracking, strabismus, amblyopia and visual processing skills. Dr. Durham is an active member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitative Association (NORA). Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation is an individualized treatment regimen for patients with visual deficits as a direct result of physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury and other neurological insults. Dr. Durham provides treatment for patients with visual field loss, double vision, visual balance disorders, visual midline shift syndrome, post trauma vision syndrome, cranial nerve paresis, photophobia, and reading disorders. Dr. Durham is a member of the American Optometric Association, NC State Optometric Society, College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, and the Sports Vision Section of the American Optometric Association. She and her husband, Jeff, reside in Raleigh with their son Zachary and two daughters, Jenna and Karli. Dr. Durham is a sports enthusiast who enjoys running, biking, aerobics and Carolina Hurricanes Hockey.

Dr. Yos Priestley

Alma Privette, COVT

Alma has worked with Dr. Susan Durham for over 15 years. As director and therapist for The Center for Visual Learning and Rehabilitative Therapy, Alma  provides vision therapy for all ages, from toddlers, children, teenagers to adults.  Prior to working with Dr. Durham, Alma spent much of her time working with children. Over a span of 20 years she has worked with children from K to 12th grade as a substitute teacher, in both public and private schools. She also spent several years working as youth director in Christian ministries. Alma holds the distinction of being one of the several certified therapists in North Carolina. She earned her certification from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development in October of 2000. Alma is a member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association and has served as exhibits coordinator from 2004 to present. Alma serves as a course instructor for vision therapist training through the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. She co-teaches "The Foundations of Vision Therapy" with Dr. Robert Hohendorf. Alma enjoys reading, entertaining, and cooking. She and her husband like traveling and caring for their 3 year old grandson, Samuel.