SYNTONIC PHOTOTHERAPY

Syntonic Phototherapy may be today's most advanced clinical science in light therapy. Since the 1920's it has been used effectively by optometrists to treat patients who have inefficient visual function. Since eighty percent of learning occurs by way of the eyes, inefficient visual function can adversely affect all aspects of one's life, including academic achievement, athletic performance and proficiency at work.

Dr. Harry Riley Spitler developed the clinical science, which he called Syntonics (from "syntony", to bring into balance) in the 1920's. His research and clinical studies validated the profound effect that light has on human function and health.

Dr. Harry Wohlfarth, an authority on the effects of color on classroom performance, has found that lighting and colors chosen for walls and carpets in classrooms are a major influence on attendance, performance and academic achievement.

Similarly, Dr. John Ott has found that lighting, which more closely simulates natural sunlight, has a positive effect on health, behavior and performance while typical artificial fluorescent light sources cause visual discomfort and lowered performance.

In 1985 psychiatry discovered light therapy. In medical clinics throughout this country and around the world, many individuals are now receiving exposures to bright light as treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Light therapy is also commanding respect in the medical community as its benefits are investigated in the treatment of jet lag, PMS, sleep disorders and conditions related to the body's daily rhythms. Exposure to certain colors has also been found to affect behavior, mood and physiological functions.

In 1991 Dr. Jacob Liberman's book, "Light: Medicine of the Future", further expanded our understanding of light and color. It describes the roles of light and color in creating a new experience of physical and emotional health.

Ocular as well as general phototherapy has become one of the fastest growing areas in clinical research and health care.

Not all retinal (light-sensitive) nerves in the eyes serve vision. Some connect the retina directly to non-visual brain centers such as the hypothalamus and pineal gland. These centers influence electrical, chemical and hormonal balances, which affect all body functions including vision. Years of clinical application and research have demonstrated that certain selected light frequencies (colors), applied by way of the eyes to these centers, can produce beneficial results in the body.

Patients are diagnosed by symptoms, vision evaluation, visual/motor performance and peripheral vision sensitivity. They may have blurred vision, a crossed or lazy eye, double vision or poor academic achievement. If appropriate, they are treated by way of their eyes with selected visible light seen as colors.

When syntonic treatments are indicated, a series of approximately twenty sessions, given over a four to five week period, is recommended. Sessions consist of viewing the appropriately prescribed light frequencies for twenty minutes. Positive changes are usually noted in the first eight sessions, and are monitored during progress examinations. Some cases may require additional therapy.

Controlled clinical studies by Dr. Robert Michael Kaplan and Dr. Jacob Liberman proved that the usual result of this relatively short-term treatment is improvement in visual skills, peripheral vision, memory, behavior, mood, general performance and academic achievement.

They confirmed that large numbers of children with learning problems have a reduction in the sensitivity of their peripheral vision. During and after phototherapy they demonstrated improvement of peripheral vision and visual skills. Control subjects who did not receive therapy showed no improvement in their peripheral vision, symptoms or performance.

SYNTONIC PHOTOTHERAPY, properly guided and supervised, is an effective method of treatment to resolve many conditions associated with inefficient visual function. For over sixty years, members of the College of Syntonic Optometry have provided this valuable service to their patients.