If you or your child is having significant vision problems, your doctor may refer you to a developmental optometrist, a healthcare professional who specializes in a variety of ocular problems. However, you may be hesitant about visiting a specialist due to myths you’ve heard about vision therapy.
Vision therapy can help many people with different visual disorders, and it’s important to dispel misinformation and get the facts straight about vision therapy. Let’s break down some common myths you might have heard.
Myth #1: Vision Therapy is Only Useful for Children
It’s certainly true that children should be regularly examined for any eye and vision disorders and have regular vision check-ups. Generally, children respond well to vision therapy treatment, but it’s not limited to that demographic. In fact, adults and teenagers benefit from vision therapy in many cases, depending on the nature of the disorder.
Myth #2: There’s No Research on Vision Therapy
There are many studies funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) and carried out in leading research institutions nationwide that find vision therapy to be effective. Studies have shown that professional vision therapy is the best treatment for convergence insufficiency, especially when coupled with home-based support. There is ongoing research on the efficacy of vision therapy for multiple disorders, including strabismus, exotropia, and reading problems.
Myth #3: Vision Therapy is Prohibitively Expensive
Some health insurance plans now include partial coverage for vision therapy services. Like most healthcare, there will be co-pays and deductibles, but the out-of-pocket costs are often outweighed by the benefits, including better eyesight and quality of life. Financial help may be available through certain sources if you don’t have insurance or it doesn’t cover the full amount.
Myth #4: Everything Can Be Fixed with Glasses or Contacts
As much as the right prescription for glasses or contacts can assist in improving your vision, it won’t help with vision problems unrelated to refractive errors. It’s a fact that vision therapy services can correct visual perception problems, enable better eye tracking, and get your eyes working as a team. With the therapy’s exercise and repetition, you can make permanent changes to your vision.
Myth #5: Only Surgery Can Fix My Vision Problems
For misalignment of eyes, multiple surgeries are often required to fix the problem. But even when surgery is effective, it only corrects the appearance of your eyes and not the behavior. Vision therapy is designed to train your brain to use both eyes, adapting to your circumstances. Learn more about strabismus surgery and your options here.
Now that you know the real vision therapy facts, you can consider a customized treatment plan from OCVT. Schedule a consultation today!