Credentials: Briana Larson, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, FNORA

Dr. Briana Larson has the distinction of being the lone practicing optometrist in the state of Texas with this exclusive set of Credentials.

In 2001, while a junior pursuing her undergraduate studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Dr. Larson started working as a vision therapist and was introduced to this specialized field of optometry. She went on to optometry school earning her doctorate degree from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2007. Dr. Larson serves as an adjunct clinical faculty member of the Rosenberg School of Optometry – University of the Incarnate Word.

Dr. Larson, a developmental optometrist completed a clinical residency in Vision Therapy Rehabilitation and Pediatric Optometry in 2008, a credential achieved by less than 1% of Optometrists nationwide. The post-doctorate Vision Therapy Residency program is typically one year in duration to complete certification. A doctor of optometry in Residency spends a minimum of 50 hours a week obtaining additional training, knowledge and expertise in the specialized field of optometric vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. Vision Therapy Residency programs entail extensive clinical experience in optometric vision therapy, brain trauma injury rehabilitation and pediatric eye care, including infants and children with special needs. The programs also require active involvement in research, lectures and teaching. Individuals who successfully achieve residency certification in Vision Therapy serve as experts and leaders in the field of Vision Therapy and Binocular Vision. Doctors of Optometry are not required to fulfill a residency program prior to practicing their profession; a key factor in the limited number (less than 1%) of optometrists achieving a Residency Certification. A residency and certification in vision therapy can be earned from a select number of Schools of Optometry. Acceptance into a Residency program is limited and highly competitive.

In 2010, she became a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). The COVD Fellow certification process serves to identify doctors of optometry who are prepared to offer state-of-the-art clinical services in behavioral and developmental vision care, optometric vision therapy and vision rehabilitation. All COVD Fellows are Board certified in vision development and therapy and offer functional and preventative vision care services to their patients. To become a Fellow of COVD, optometrists who have practiced for at least three years must complete a Fellowship education program, a written examination and an oral interview administered by the COVD International Examination and Certification Board. At the end of 2015, there are 11 practicing optometrists in the state of Texas who are COVD certified.

The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) recently inducted Dr. Larson as a Fellow of the Academy during its 2012 annual conference. Fellows of the Academy are evaluated against the highest standards of professional competence and must complete a candidacy process that includes submitting written work demonstrating their skills as an optometrist and sitting for an oral exam at the Annual Meeting of the Academy. About 10% of practicing optometrists in the United States are Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry.

The Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) inducted Dr. Briana Larson as a Fellow (FNORA) during its 2014 Annual Conference at North Carolina. A Fellow of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (FNORA) designation is recognition of a professional’s highest level of competence in clinical abilities and scientific knowledge in the field of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation. Currently, there are only twenty one (21) FNORA professionals in the United States. Dr. Larson is the lone practicing optometrist in Texas with an FNORA credential. The NORA Fellowship program is typically a 2 to 5 year skills development process that involves coursework, conferences, passing a written test, case studies, presentations and being published