Visual training is a program of activities that help a person observe, learn about, and change how they are using their visual process. Although often referred to as "eye exercises" visual training is much more than that. By setting up the proper conditions, and using the appropriate language, equipment, and lenses it is possible to retrain the brain. This is an important point. The eyes and their supporting muscles can only do what the brain tells them to do. When the visual process is not working properly it is because there is confusion in the brain. That is, the brain is not processing visual information accurately. This in turn causes errors in the output. Vision is, most importantly, a process involved with output. Output can consist of thought, relating information through spoken or written language or some other type of bodily movement. Of course we must first see with our eyes and get meaning from what we see. However, one of the most important steps in this process is our response to this input. What do we do with what we've seen? Can we answer questions correctly? Can we catch the ball coming toward us? Can we copy exactly what is on the board? Can we just speeds and distances quickly and accurately while driving? All of these questions relate to visual output. Visual training deals with all aspects of the visual process, especially output.
Visual training is a program of activities designed to improve visual performance. There are many conditions associated with visual difficulties. These include:
delays in visual development overall developmental delays neurological conditions traumatic brain injuries stress related breakdown of visual abilities various injuries that affect posture improper or overuse of vision
Difficulties in visual performance can lead to:
poor overall development poor coordination overall learning difficulties, so-called learning disabilities difficulty learning to read discomfort while reading poor handwriting attention deficits inability to complete work on time eye, neck, muscle discomfort at the computer frequent headaches eye strain, itching eyes, red eyes
No matter what the cause, and no matter which of the above symptoms or complaints may be present, visual training can usually help. Anyone experiencing one or more of the difficulties listed above is a candidate for visual training. They should be properly evaluated, and in most cases can be helped. A person begins a program of visual training in order to increase visual comfort, visual endurance, visual efficiency and/or to eliminate symptoms. Visual training may also be useful for people who want to stop wearing glasses, reduce the strength of their glasses or just want to improve their visual performance for school, work or sports.
Visual training is a process of self-discovery. It is a non-invasive program of mind/body/vision exercises. The training is most successful when each session is designed and guided by an experienced behavioral optometrist. It is also important that it be an individualized program of activities, utilizing lenses and prisms. The activities are designed to improve visual functioning in the areas of visual development, peripheral visual awareness, eye movements, focusing, eye teaming, eye-hand coordination, and visual acuity. Some activities are specific to one area of visual function, although most involve two or more areas simultaneously and many incorporate other modalities such as auditory processing, fine and gross motor, and/or general cognitive processing. The more integrative the activity, the greater the impact it will have. Visual training is designed to set up conditions that enable a person to engage in visual activities while increasing their awareness of how they use the visual process. This provides feedback as to how smoothly and accurately (or not) they are processing information. It is useful to process information both rapidly and accurately. This increases efficiency, comfort and endurance. It is also important to maximize flexibility of visual performance so that no matter what the situation, the visual process is able to do its job with the least amount of effort and the highest quality outcome. The typical program consists of weekly in-office sessions supported by the wearing of a therapeutic prescription.
My new book, “Looking Differently at Nearsightedness and Myopia” Is aimed at providing people a broader view of all the issues involved in being nearsighted.How and why does it start? What are the implications and side-affects of treating it?Are there alternatives to glasses, contact lenses and surgery?
There are several organizations that can provide further information as well as help in finding behavioral optometrists in your area.
delays in visual development