20/20:
Is it enough?
17 essential visual skills are necessary for reading and learning, including the ability to align the eyes, focus effectively, and move the eyes smoothly across a page. Unfortunately, these skills are often overlooked in standard vision screenings, which only assess distance vision, leading parents to mistakenly believe their child has no issues.
An eye exam at an ophthalmology or primary optometry office primarily evaluates eye health and determines if glasses or contact lenses are needed. However, these routine exams do not assess all 17 visual skills essential for academic achievement.
When any of these visual skills are impaired, it can create significant challenges reading and learning. Some children may exhibit behavioral issues, while others may shy from reading altogether or outright refuse to read. This can be confusing for parents, especially when their child is otherwise. As a result, these children are often inaccurately as hyperactive, lazy, or slow, and many these issues can be misidentified as learning disabilities or attention disorders.
According to the American Federation of Teachers, vision plays an important role in our children's education and:
"Even the most gifted students will struggle academically if they have trouble seeing the blackboard or focusing on a book.
A tremendous amount of learning happens visually, so proper vision care is crucial to helping students reach their full potential."
It's Never Too Late to Improve Your Vision
Oftentimes, parents realize that they share similar vision issues with their children and inquire if it's too late for them to seek help. The answer – it’s never too late! We are here to assist you!
While it was once believed that there was a critical period for treating conditions like strabismus and amblyopia, recent studies have shown this to be false. Thanks to optometric vision therapy, these vision disorders can be treated at any age.
Signs of a Vision Problem
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Tiring quickly while reading
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Avoidance of near work
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Frequent loss of place when reading
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Omitting, inserting, or rereading words in a paragraph
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Confusing similar looking words
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Poor reading comprehension
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Jerky eye movements, one eye turning in or out
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Blurred or intermittent double vision
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Headaches, dizziness, or nausea after reading
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Red, sore, tearing, or itching eyes
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Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking
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Head tilting or closing or blocking one eye when reading
Dr. Susan Barry, featured on NPR's Fresh Air and a TEDx speaker, is known for achieving 3D vision as an adult and sharing her journey in her book, Fixing My Gaze.
Cross-eyed since infancy, Dr. Barry underwent three strabismic eye surgeries as a child, resulting in “20/20” vision. However, she continued to struggle with words moving on the page when reading in grade school. It wasn’t until she participated in optometric vision therapy as an adult that she realized her eyes weren’t coordinating properly for reading. As neurobiology professor at Mount Holyoke College, Dr. Barry regularly discusses neuronal plasticity with scientists, eye doctors, and educators.
Unfortunately, many individuals with binocular vision dysfunctions continue to struggle and face lifelong challenges despite various treatments. Optometric vision therapy is effective. If you or someone you know struggles with reading and learning, please contact our office today.