“We initially interpreted these symptoms of learning difficulties as dyslexia.”
Olivia, age 14, excels in sports, partakes actively in club activities, and is a social butterfly among her peers. In contrast to her accomplished co-curricular resume, her academic results were somewhat lackluster.
“She had been experiencing double vision, words blurring when reading, and eye pain under the glare of light,” her mother shared. “Her symptoms included being bothered by light, covering an eye while reading, and losing her place in a sentence.” Elaine also struggled with reading comprehension and she tired easily after near task activities.
Although her mother initially suspected these symptoms of learning difficulties as dyslexia, Olivia had convergence and accommodation insufficiency. She started vision therapy and made significant improvements in her studies. Olivia is thrilled to also report that following vision therapy, she is no longer bothered by light and she finds it much easier to read.
“He no longer struggles to read or learn.”
When John put on his first pair of glasses at age 6, his mother remembers him saying, “Wow! Things aren’t smeary.” But, at age 8, he was still having reading issues. His mother recalls that following his annual eye appointment, the doctor referred John for vision therapy consultation for amblyopia. “Gratefully, we entered the vision therapy program where every week over the course of a year John enjoyed what he called “playing eye games with fun eye therapists.” John now has strong eye teaming and, with the help of his glasses, he has regained his binocularity and 3D vision.
Today, John is a happy 10-year-old, reading at grade level and doing math at a higher grade level. He no longer struggles to read or learn. He even plays soccer on two teams— one recreation team and one advanced team.
“My vertigo was so bad. I remember crawling on my hands and knees.”
Maria, age 46, was in a car accident in July, 2015. “Following the accident, I did everything suggested as a traumatic brain injury patient and had balance therapy for extreme vertigo,” She said. “But I still felt off.”
As a CPA, Bianca worked long hours at the computer. Working on Excel spreadsheets and reading. “I suffered headaches and fatigue. I was very moody, which isn’t my normal personality.” Her physical therapist recommended vision therapy. “My Optometrist understood and recognized my problems right away.” Maria noticed improvements every week. “Little by little, it all started coming back to me,” she said. “I realized one day I had read for 30 minutes and then another day for 45 minutes.” As an avid tennis player, Maria was heartbroken that she could not play following the accident. “I couldn’t even think about playing tennis, hiking or skiing.”
But, thanks to vision therapy, Maria has improved so much and has found herself on the tennis courts again. “I am thrilled that we are going skiing this year. I am so grateful to my doctor and vision therapist for helping me get my life back. And, my husband is happy that I’m a lot less moody!”
“I’ve seen what vision therapy has done for my son. It was convincing and compelling for us.”
Becky shared that her son, Aidan, “avoided learning how to ride a bike and had no interest in organized sports.” He was struggling in third grade, distracted at school, and frustrated with homework.
“We first heard about vision therapy from our Optometrist , but it took us about a year to decide it was the right decision for Aidan,” she said. “When the doctor was describing vision therapy to me, I realized Aidan struggled in everything she mentioned. We enrolled him in vision therapy and started noticing changes in him in only six weeks.” After completing his vision therapy program, Becky said “He is making straight A’s every week. He is playing flag football, scoring touchdowns even, and recently at a Cub Scouts meeting volunteered to be the first one to climb a rock wall.” Additionally, he is focused at school, using his time productively, and he likes to read. “One day he asked to learn to ride a bike and by afternoon he was doing it!” Now he would like to ski.
“Vision therapy unlocked so many things for him. I feel so lucky and I am so proud of him. He is now the happiest, most confident kid.”
“When I looked in the mirror, that night in the hospital, I was two heads looking back at me.”
David, age 59, fell off a ladder and was knocked unconscious. He was diagnosed with a Grade 3 (severe) concussion. “Cranial nerve palsy led to 11 months of blurry and double vision,” David said. David received help from a vestibular rehabilitation specialist, who recommended vision therapy. “Initially, if I held my head straight, everything was blurry, but if I tilted my chin down and used my upward gaze, I could see clearly. At first, I had to talk to people and even back my car out of the driveway with my chin down looking up,” he laughed. David struggled with fatigue and had extreme sensitivity to light for many months. “I felt like I was in a dense fog all the time.”
Vision therapy has helped David to recover. “I kept seeing improvement, slowly but surely. I feel great now and happy to be back doing things I love like playing and coaching basketball.”
All names have been changed to protect the privacy of our patients
