
What We Do
Specialty Eye’s vision therapy program is based on neuroscience principles that provide treatment for developmental problems, vision-related learning problems, visual-motor deficiencies, perceptual-cognitive deficiencies, visual rehabilitation after a brain injury, and visual enhancement training for sports.
Vision therapy helps improve learning, memory, thinking, executive functions, and attention.
The therapy programs include weekly office visits to work one-on-one with a highly-trained vision therapist combined with at-home reinforcement exercises. Regular evaluations will be completed to monitor each person’s progress, goals, symptoms, and to help determine the amount of time needed to complete the program.
We combine the use of tools like lenses, prisms, 3D tranaglyphs and vectograms, perceptual learning procedures, vision therapy computer software, and many neuromuscular feedback systems.
Vision Therapy For Adults
Specialty Eye works closely with The Mind’s Eye Center, a vision therapy institute that focuses on healing vision and brain communication issues. We combine in-person and online sessions to help you achieve your vision goals.
Each persons’ goals and struggles are different, so our program is fully customizable to help you achieve your best vision.
The Specialty Eye vision therapy program has helped adults overcome or effectively manage:
- Deficient visual skills for work and daily activities
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Acquired brain injury, traumatic brain injury, & concussion
- Neurodegenerative diseases
We also offer programs for sports visual enhancement training.
Vision Therapy For Children
Your child’s vision is so important, and we’re here to help them get the most out of it. Working alongside The Mind’s Eye Center, Specialty Eye is able to help children of all ages with developmental vision problems including:
- Vision-related learning difficulties
- Children with autism
- Children with ADD & ADHD
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Post-concussion syndrome
We also offer programs for sports visual enhancement training.
Setting Your Sights on Comfortable Sight
Many people are very fortunate to not have to think about how their eyes work. They just work. But for some, clear, comfortable vision can be a fickle thing.
That’s where the vision experts at Specialty Eye come in. We want you to achieve your best vision possible, and we’re here to help you achieve it with vision therapy.
If you’re curious about vision therapy and if it will work for you, talk to our trusted team.


Improving Connections
You may be interested in vision therapy for any number of reasons. Perhaps you are recovering from a head injury, you have struggled with eye movements and focusing for a long time, or you are noticing issues with your child’s visual performance when reading.
Whatever your reason, we are here to help.
Vision therapy assists with improving:
- Eye alignment
- Eye movements & tracking
- Eye teaming
- Eye focusing
- Visual perceptual & cognitive abilities
- Visual attention & memory

Vision Therapy Resources
Are you interested in our vision therapy program? Check your symptoms to see if vision therapy may benefit you, or take our brain injury symptom survey.
Learn More
The COVD Website is an excellent place to learn more about vision problems, optometric vision therapy, and read research. More of our favorite resources include:
- The Scientific Basis for and Efficacy of Optometric Vision Therapy in Nonstrabismic Accommodative and Vergence Disorders.
- Correlation Between Asthenopic Symptoms and Different Measurements of Convergence and Reading Comprehension and Saccadic Fixation Eye Movements.
- Binocular Vision and the Stroop Test.
- Effect of Oculomotor and Other Visual Skills on Reading Performance: A Literature Review.
- The Relation of Clinical Saccadic Eye Movement Testing to Reading in Kindergartners and First Graders.
- The Impact of Vergence and Accommodative Therapy on Reading Eye Movements and Reading Speed.
- Correlation of Magnocellular Function with Measurements of Reading in Children.
- Vision and Reading Deficits in Post-Concussion Patients: A Retrospective Analysis.
- Academic Behaviors in Children with Convergence Insufficiency with and without Parent-Reported ADHD.
- Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency in Childhood: A Current Perspective.
- Randomized Clinical Trial of Treatments for Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency in Children.
- Vision Therapy/ Orthoptics for Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency in Children: Treatment Kinetics.
- Randomized Clinical Trial of Vision Therapy/Orthoptics versus Pencil Pushups for the Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency in Young Adults.
- Oculomotor Dysfunctions, Their Remediation, and Reading-Related Problems in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Effectiveness of Vision Therapy in School Children with Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency.
- Efficacy of Vision Therapy in Children with Learning Disability and Associated Binocular Vision Anomalies.
- Vision Therapy in Adults with Convergence Insufficiency: Clinical and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measures.
- Visual and Binocular Status in Elementary School Children With a Reading Problem.
- Accommodative Function in School Children with Reading Difficulties.
- Treatment of Accommodative Dysfunction in Children: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial.
- Accommodative Insufficiency Is the Primary Source of Symptoms in Children Diagnosed With Convergence Insufficiency.
- Research Update on Visually-Based Reading Disability
How Vision Therapy is Prescribed
A comprehensive eye exam is designed to determine eye health and eyesight—which is integral to the more advanced vision therapy consultation.
The Consultation
Most eye doctors are not specially trained in visual development, vision therapy, and neuro-optometry. The vision therapy consultation is designed to evaluate symptoms, determine diagnoses, and develop a treatment plan based on goals that may include a referral for advanced optometric vision therapy. The consultation and testing may involve more than one visit.
Our doctors who provide this specialty do the consultation in our Specialty Eye Clinics and refer patients to The Mind’s Eye Center (sister clinic). When vision therapy is prescribed, the therapists at The Mind’s Eye Center work with the overseeing doctors to develop a therapy program custom tailored to each patient’s needs, diagnoses, and goals.
Referrals
Specialty Eye receives referrals and co-manages treatment with many optometric physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language practitioners, neurologists, physicians, ophthalmologists, naturopathic doctors, and other professionals. If you were recommended for a consultation, please have a referral faxed to Specialty Eye.
The Mind’s Eye Center
Specialty Eye works closely with The Minds Eye Center, which provides individualized vision therapy programs to best address the specific visual dysfunction and goals of adults and children.
Technology
The Mind’s Eye Center utilizes time-tested tools and the newest technology. Virtual reality has successfully treated adults and children with deficient visual skills, amblyopia, strabismus, brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases, and also provides sports visual enhancement training.
- We use vision therapy activities in Virtual Reality platform (Vivid Vision) during office sessions and prescribe for increased therapeutic impact at home.
- Research and clinical experience continues to show this to be a powerful tool toward visual learning and gains for patients.
Optometric Tools
- Therapeutic Lenses
- Prisms
- Perceptual learning procedures
- Many different types of 3D and 3D technology
- Different types of occlusion and filters
- Balance boards
- Electronic targets and touchscreens with timing mechanisms
- Vision therapy software
- Vision therapy activities in Virtual Reality platform (Vivid Vision)
- Many other special tools designed for specific eye-brain learning
Advanced Vision Therapy Vs. Eye Exercises
Advanced vision therapy is more than what many ophthalmologists would define as orthoptics. The treatments used during optometric vision therapy go beyond the limited definition and scope of orthoptics to treat disorders of the visual system, indicative of vision as a collaboration between the eyes and the brain.
This is why it is so important to understand that optometric vision therapy is different from self-help “eye exercises”. Optometric vision therapy is like physical therapy for the eyes, but with a cognitive or thinking component. Because of the complexity of the visual system, we design individually prescribed therapy plans to address each person’s visual needs.

FAQs
Do you have questions about vision therapy? Have a look at our FAQs below to help find some answers to common questions. If you don’t see the answer you are looking for, get in touch with our helpful vision therapy team.
What Is Optometric Vision Therapy (VT)?
- Optometric Vision Therapy is the science of developing visual abilities to achieve optimal visual performance and comfort.
- A doctor prescribed program of progressive vison procedures designed for high level learning in the visual system (brain and eyes).
- Performed under the supervision of specially trained optometrist.
- The goal is to help patients apply their newly developed visual skills and perception into real life.
- Optometric vision therapy is not a specific set of eye exercises and is not simply orthoptics (see below)
What Is VT Like At Mind’s Eye Center?
- We provide advanced evidence-based vision therapy based on the principles of neuroscience.
- Individualized for each patient’s needs, diagnoses, and goals.
- The doctor-therapist team plan visual activities that create brain changes.
- One-on-one office sessions with highly trained optometric vision therapists.
- Interactive in-office sessions once or twice weekly for 45 minutes.
- Utilizes technology, 3D, virtual reality (Vivid Vision), and real space activities.
What Tools Are Used In Optometric Vision Therapy?
- Therapeutic Lenses
- Prisms
- Perceptual learning procedures
- Many different types of 3D and 3D technology
- Different types of occlusion and filters
- Balance boards
- Electronic targets and touchscreens with timing mechanisms
- Vision therapy software
- Vision therapy activities in Virtual Reality platform (Vivid Vision)
- Many other special tools designed for specific eye-brain learning
Does Mind’s Eye Center Use Virtual Reality?
- Yes! We use vision therapy activities in a Virtual Reality platform (Vivid Vision) during office sessions and prescribe for increased therapeutic impact at home.
- Research and clinical experience continue to show this to be a powerful tool toward visual learning and gains for patients.
What Are The Goals Of Optometric Vision Therapy?
- Help patients develop or improve foundational visual skills (eye movements, eye focusing, eye teaming) used in every area of life.
- Improve visual comfort, effectiveness, and efficiency for everyday activities, academics, work, or sport.
- Improve visually guided gross and fine motor abilities (eye-hand, eye-foot, eye-body).
- Enhance the brain’s ability to control eye alignment, decrease suppression, and improve coordination of the two eyes as a team.
- Enhance visual perceptual abilities, memory, and visual attention.
- Our ultimate goal is to design the vision therapy activities to guide learning in the visual system toward treating the diagnoses and meeting patient goals.
Is Vision Therapy Different Than Eye Exercises?
A publication by the American Optometric Association on Vision as a Collaboration Between Eyes and Brain, co-authored by Dr. Press, concluded: “Information from neuroimaging and insights from cognitive neuroscience demand a significant reformulation of the understanding of vision. Vision occurs neither in the eyes nor in the brain but emerges from the collaboration of the eyes and the rest of the brain. Vision is a pervasive aspect of our existence which permeates all of our activities. Vision develops and, due to neural plasticity, can be enhanced.”
This is why it is so important to understand that optometric vision therapy is different from self-help “eye exercises”. Optometric vision therapy is like physical therapy for the eyes, but with a cognitive or thinking component. Because of the complexity of the visual system, we design individually prescribed therapy plans to address each person’s visual needs.
What Is Advanced Vision Therapy?
Advanced vision therapy is more than what many ophthalmologists would define as orthoptics. The treatments used during optometric vision therapy go beyond the limited definition and scope of orthoptics to treat disorders of the visual system, indicative of vision as a collaboration between the eyes and the brain.
What Types Of Visual Problems Are Treated?
The Mind’s Eye Center provides advanced vision therapy based on the principles of neuroscience. We provide treatment for developmental visual problems, vision-related learning problems, visual-motor deficiencies, perceptual-cognitive deficiencies, and provide visual rehabilitation after acquired brain injury, and visual enhancement training for sport.
Optometric vision therapy is the link that connects the brain to clear eyesight. Eyesight that is 20/20 is not enough to function well in the activities of daily living, hobbies, school, work, or sport. Sight is not the same as vision. “Eyesight” is a physical process of focusing light within our eyes, whereas “vision” involves our eye-brain ability to derive meaning and make appropriate action based on what is seen. Vision is involved in learning, memory, thinking, executive functions, and attention.
Vision therapy sessions include procedures designed to enhance the brain’s ability to control:
- Eye alignment
- Eye movements and tracking
- Eye teaming
- Eye focusing
- Visual perceptual and cognitive abilities
- Visual attention and memory
Why Wasn’t Vision Therapy Recommended By The Pediatrician Or Ophthalmologist?
It is important to understand why there can be disagreement when comparing the recommendations of optometrists specially trained in vision therapy and other eye doctors or pediatricians. Pediatricians screen for eye problems—and many ophthalmologists and optometrists only examine eye health and eyesight. If they determine that there are no abnormalities with the eye, that’s the end of the discussion. The eyes are fine, therefore there’s no need for vision therapy. This is a shortsighted approach when you consider that vision occurs beyond the eyes.
Simply put, the need for brain-based (neurolearning) vision therapy for patients with conditions such as autism spectrum, ADHD, reading problems, or brain injury has nothing to do with whether eyesight is 20/20 or the eyes are healthy.
This is why it is so important to understand that optometric vision therapy is different from self-help “eye exercises.” Optometric vision therapy is like physical therapy for the eyes, but with a cognitive or thinking component. Because of the complexity of the visual system, we design individually prescribed therapy plans to address each person’s visual needs.
What is the Vision Therapy Program Like?
At The Mind’s Eye Center, Vision Therapy is individually designed for each patient’s needs. The doctor-therapist team design the program based on each patient’s diagnoses, symptoms, visual deficiencies, and their effect on optimal work, school, sport, or hobby performance with each patient’s individual needs and goals in mind.
A therapy program includes weekly or twice weekly office visits working one-on-one with a highly trained Optometric Vision Therapist. The doctor prescribes the therapy and the Dr.-therapist team plans visual activities that create brain changes. The vision therapist is highly trained to coach each patient to achieve high-level learning. Research shows this type of program to be the most successful in addressing patient symptoms and goals and changing brain-eye connections. Visual activities may be prescribed to practice at home for additional reinforcement and learning.
Regular progress evaluations are scheduled with the doctor to monitor each patient’s progress, goals, symptoms, and to best individualize the activities. After a patient completes their vision therapy program, the patient is monitored with post-therapy evaluations with one of the specialty doctors.
Why Is Our Vision Therapy Successful?
High-level specialty training and continual learning
The Mind’s Eye Center provides advanced evidence-based vision therapy based on the principles of neuroscience. The doctors are residency trained in this specialty and continually pursue post-doctorate continuing education at the highest level in their specialty. The doctors and the optometric vision therapists are continually involved with training, education, teaching, and collaboration in areas of visual development, learning, vision and neuroscience, attention and memory, acquired and traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
Scientifically proven methodology and genuine care for each patient
There is no procedure or instrument that makes a patient better – it is what the patient learns from the procedure. The doctor-therapist team creates opportunities for learning during the visual activities. The patient must transfer this learning to their daily lives. When they do, we see reduced symptoms and improved quality of life. We accomplish this by using 5 keys (Socratic Method, Learning Theory, Specific Praise, Motivation, and Loading), which have been scientifically proven to be very effective methods of neurolearning and treatment in vision therapy.
Collaboration with other professionals
Our doctors and optometric vision therapists collaborate with other professionals for the best care and co-management of our patients.
Sharing our passion and expertise
Our doctors have a high commitment to teaching and providing continuing education for eye care physicians, medical physicians, neurologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language therapists. Our doctors also regularly volunteer their time and expertise in the community as well as worldwide. Some of these avenues are Optometric Physicians of Washington, Children’s Task Force, InfantSEE Committee, volunteering and educating school nurses, teachers, and education professionals, teaching at Evergreen Health parent-baby classes, and providing eye health and vision care to the underserved in our community and world.
Does Optometric Vision Therapy Really Work?
Yes!
How do we know?
- Real lives are changed
- Scientific research in many professional areas is utilized in the treatments and methodology of optometric vision therapy.
- Some of these areas include vision, perception, developmental, neuroplasticity, physiology, cognitive science, learning, education, psychology, neuroscience, and biology.
Get the Vision You Deserve
Vision therapy helps build stronger connections between the eyes and brain that prescription lenses can’t do. The visual system includes eyesight (which is the physical process of light entering the eye) as well as how our brain interprets that information and takes action (like moving our eyes in the direction of an object).
The first step is to come in for a consultation. Your optometrist and vision therapist will then be able to build a program to help you achieve your vision therapy goals. Request your evaluation today.
Our Locations
Bellevue
Steps away from beautiful Bellevue Square Mall, our office is conveniently located just off the I-405 on 106 Avenue NE.
- 225 106 Ave. NE
- Bellevue, WA 98004
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Kirkland
Next to the Evergreen Hospital, our convenient location is on NE 128 Street, just off the I-405.
- 11830 NE 128 St., Suite 1
- Kirkland, WA 98034
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Our Specialty Eye Care

See What People Say About Us
“All the associates here are wonderful! Everyone is thoughtful and accommodating. I have to use a walker and ever single person was patient and helpful in maneuvering me to be comfortable with doing certain test. In addition, my doctor is amazing!”
Andrea Norton
“The office is very informative. The Dr’s and staff are great and we look forward to starting our vision therapy!!”
Cori Brundage Frandsen
“My son has been going here since he was 1. We’ve never had a bad experience, and we’ve had a lot of visits because of his vision problems.”
Deanna Dooley Stanley
Our Expert Blog
Think You Have Dry Eye Syndrome? Take Our Quiz!
Dry EyeDo you often find yourself rubbing your eyes frequently? Are you experiencing a burning sensation, eye fatigue, or redness? These are a few signs that you might be struggling with a common condition known as dry eye. Dry eye symptoms are widespread and can be caused by several factors, including other eye conditions, like digital […]
How Do Atropine Eye Drops Help Control Myopia in Kids?
MyopiaMyopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition that affects many people. It usually starts in childhood and is caused by the elongation of the eyeball, leading to difficulty seeing objects at a distance. Nowadays, there are several ways to manage myopia, and atropine eye drops are a popular method for slowing myopia […]
Can Nearsightedness Be Reversed?
MyopiaFirst, let’s clarify what nearsightedness is exactly. The technical term for the condition that causes nearsightedness is myopia, which affects approximately 30% of Americans. People with myopia can see objects up close clearly, but things farther away appear blurry. When your eye grows too long or your cornea is too curved, light that enters your […]
Think You Have Dry Eye Syndrome? Take Our Quiz!

Do you often find yourself rubbing your eyes frequently? Are you experiencing a burning sensation, eye fatigue, or redness? These are a few signs that you might be struggling with a common condition known as dry eye. Dry eye symptoms are widespread and can be caused by several factors, including other eye conditions, like digital […]
How Do Atropine Eye Drops Help Control Myopia in Kids?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common vision condition that affects many people. It usually starts in childhood and is caused by the elongation of the eyeball, leading to difficulty seeing objects at a distance. Nowadays, there are several ways to manage myopia, and atropine eye drops are a popular method for slowing myopia […]
Can Nearsightedness Be Reversed?

First, let’s clarify what nearsightedness is exactly. The technical term for the condition that causes nearsightedness is myopia, which affects approximately 30% of Americans. People with myopia can see objects up close clearly, but things farther away appear blurry. When your eye grows too long or your cornea is too curved, light that enters your […]