You may not be aware of it, but your visual system
brings you much of the information about your world. When you look
at something, you don't just "see" with your eyes; you
inspect, discriminate, identify and interpret - all as part of your
vision system.
Behavioral vision care is an expanded area of optometric practice.
WHen you visit your behavioral optometrist, you may notice a difference
in your examination. You will find out that you are tested for very
specific skills. You may find out that many of your questions about
vision are answered. And, you will receive the clinical guidance
you need to develop the skills which provide for an efficient visual
system.
Why Behavioral Vision Care?
Our ancestors had hunter's eyes for survival in
the wilderness; their vision was designed for spotting game enemies
at a distance.
In the last 100 years we have been forced to deal
with sustained, near visual tasks and the resulting stress on the
visual system has produced many symptoms and problems.
If you experience headaches, blurred vision, tired,
itchy or watery eyes or other vision-linked problems, you may already
know how uncomfortable sustained visual stress can feel. Your discomfort
may be related to the heavy vision load of working at near distance.
If you are a student, you may read almost three times
the number of textbooks your grandparents did. If you are employed
in an office, you probably use your visual system for hours of close-up
work. If you work with computers, you may spend much of your day
looking at a computer screen. These tasks can all contribute to
visual stress.
Even if you have "20/20 eyesight," you may have difficulty
working at close tasks. The term "20/20" means that means
that you can see well at distances of 20 feet or more, it dies not
usually refer to how well you see at 12-16 inches, the distance
at which you do most of your close work.
There is a solution
Your behavioral optometrist
has studied the effects of stress on vision. Through the use of
carefully selected stress-relieving and preventive lenses and visual
training, you can enjoy relief from even the most stressful close-up
visual conditions.
More About Behavioral optometrists
Your behavioral optometrist takes a holistic approach
to vision care. You are treated as a whole person and your visual
problem as a part of the whole system. Your behavioral optometrist
works with you and your children, rather than doing something to
you.
You and your children will receive help in developing
the important visual skills you may need to reach academic and professional
goals.
Even the visual achievement of successful learners
and earners can be enhanced through behavioral optometric care.
Who Needs a Behavioral Optometrist?
Children of all ages, but especially children just starting school.
Children who are having trouble with reading or learning.
Children who seem to be uncoordinated in visually demanding sports
Children who are considered "behavior problems."
Children who are
reading "below their potential."
Children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.
Anyone who participates
in athletics and wants improved performance.
Anyone who works at
a computer
Anyone who
has a visually demanding job.
Anyone who suffers
from burning, itchy eyes, eye strain or visual fatigue (with no medical
eye problem).
Stroke patients.
Anyone who suffers from chronic fatigue.
Vision therapy can be used in a number of ways also
To develop visual skills. In this instance a program of activities
is set so that the rate of visual skill development can be enhanced.
To re-establish visual functional skills. In this instance a program
of activities is set so that focus and eye teaming skills can re-learn
to work in an efficient manner.
To rehabilitate visual skills. In this instance a program of activities
is set to retrain visual function that has been distorted by brain
injury or illness.
To enhance visual skills. In this instance a program of activities
is set to raise the level of visual function to the highest level
possible. This level of enhancement is required by some athletes.
