FAQ’s

1. How do I find out if vision therapy can help me/my family member?

To find out if you or a family member would benefit from vision therapy, you can schedule a new patient appointment with either Dr. Roser or Dr. Hollenbach. The first evaluation may take up to 2 hours, and includes an in depth history, the regular eye doctor testing (visual acuity, eye health, and refraction for glasses), evaluation of the basic visual skills (eye teaming, eye movement, and focusing coordination), and visual perceptual testing (when indicated).

2. How long does it take to complete a vision therapy program?

A typical vision therapy program last 4 to 6 months, with hour long weekly in-office treatment sessions. Progress evaluations are done after 13 visits (or after 8 in-office vision therapy sessions, if you come every other week).

3. Can I practice vision exercises at home?

Yes, in fact, we request that you practice 30 minutes of vision exercises at home every day. We are building coordination, which involves networks in the brain. These networks develop stronger, and faster if you practice every day.

4. Do I have to practice exercises once completing the program?

Typically, once you have completed the program, you do not have to continue practicing. The pathways we are building in the brain are like learning to ride a bike, once you have it, it belongs to you. There are exceptions for difficult cases, and for older patients. With children, we expect to see their skills continuing to build naturally on their own after completing a vision therapy program. Follow up appointments 6 months after completing the program, are recommended to be sure these skills are now developing on their own.

5. Can vision therapy help with “tracking” issues?

Vision therapy is the ideal way to build tracking skills, so that you can keep your place with reading, doing book work, and when copying from the board in school.

6. Does vision therapy treat dyslexia?

Vision therapy does not treat dyslexia. Dyslexia is a reading disorder. However, many people who have difficulty reading DO benefit from vision therapy. We know the visual skills/tools necessary to be a good reader, evaluate them, and build them. These skills include the coordination of eye teaming, movements, and focusing, as well as visual memory, and visualization.

Often times, letter/number reversals accompany reading issues. This happens so frequently that many assume that if you reverse letters you are dyslexic. This is not true. Reversals are a visual processing disorder (directionality) which is often corrected with vision therapy.

7. Can vision therapy help with visual perceptual/processing skills?

Yes, vision therapy can improve visual processing skills. All too often children, and brain injured patients are told they have deficient visual processing skills, but are not told that they can often be developed. This is unfortunate, because they usually can be improved.

8. Can vision therapy help with sports performance?

Yes, vision therapy can improve sports performance. We know that superior athletes have superior visual skills. In fact, many professional athletes have done high level vision therapy to give themselves an edge over the competition. Even children with poor eye hand coordination, or depth perception can be helped.

9. Can doing vision therapy help me recover from a concussion?

Yes, vision therapy can help in the recovery process following a concussion. There are often visual symptoms following a concussion which can be treated with vision therapy.

10. Can vision therapy help me recover from a stroke?

Yes, vision therapy can help in the recovery process following a stroke. Eye teaming, and eye movement coordination can be rehabilitated, and vision exercises can help compensate for a visual field loss.

11. Does Vision Therapy Associates participate with my insurance program?

We do not participate with insurance companies, which means we ask for payment at the time of service. We will be happy to submit claims to your insurance company for you, with the exception of Medical Assistance plans.

12. Is there research supporting the efficacy of vision therapy?

There is quite a bit of research supporting the efficacy of vision therapy. Please check the website of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD.org) for documentation.