The short answer is no. Optometric Vision Therapy can only be performed under the supervision of an optometrist, as it is a comprehensive medical treatment modality.

"Eye exercises", "brain training" or programs advertised to quickly improve eyesight, are not Optometric Vision Therapy. Likewise, education therapy and Optometric Vision Therapy are not to be confused. While we are able to help improve a child's performance in school, this is because we remove the visual barriers blocking the child's ability to succeed. We do not treat learning problems. We treat the underlying vision problem which is exacerbating the learning issues.

Optometric vision therapy makes use of the fact that "vision" comprises more than half of the brain's processing. As such, vision therapy includes working on many skills. Here are some of the things that make vision therapy a unique service:

Pursuit and saccade therapy (to improve the speed and accuracy of eye movements)

Visual-vestibular therapy (to integrate eye movements with balance)

Visual perceptual therapy (to enhance visual information processing)

Eye-hand coordination therapy (to develop visually guided movement)

Accommodative therapy (to enhance focusing stability, flexibility, and comfort)

Visual attention therapy

Peripheral awareness therapy (enhances one's side vision and ability to be aware of multiple things simultaneously)

Visual-spatial awareness (including laterality, directionality, and visual imagery)

Visual-auditory integration

Orthoptics (mechanics of eye movements)

The number of office visits required depends on the diagnosis and the age of the patient. Vision therapy programs typically involve one to two in-office sessions throughout the week, for a varying number of months depending on need. We usually prescribe home exercises to reinforce office therapy.