Vision Therapy is a well-respected and constantly evolving method of treatment used for over 80 years. Many misconceptions about Vision Therapy have been shared due to the lack of understanding about the connection between vision and the brain--80% of external input processed by the brain is processed through the visual pathway. Unfortunately, many professionals are unaware of the importance of vision therapy as well as the newest education in ongoing research and therefore have yet to change their standard of care.

The Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) was established in 1970, and Dr. Ford has been a Fellow of OVDRA since 2015. Our six Certified Vision Therapists, who each became members at different dates (depending upon their certification completion), are required to maintain certification through continuing education with OVDRA.

Facts about Vision Therapy

Vision Therapy Misconceptions

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  • 20/20 vision is known as “perfect vision” right? Unfortunately, no. 20/20 vision is just one of 17 TOTAL vision skills. A general eye exam only checks for 20/20 vision. A Developmental Optometrist, like Dr. Ford or Dr. Schmoker, will test for all 17 vision skills.

    Vision Therapy has been around for over 100 years. Just like with other therapies, there are times that surgery is appropriate and times that therapy is appropriate—which is why the best place to start is a Developmental Exam.

    If therapy is prescribed, a very important thing to remember is that a patient will get out of it what they put in. Two in-office therapy sessions a week are recommended, along with 20-30 minutes of home therapy for each remaining day the patient is out of the office. This, along with scheduled progress exams throughout therapy, produces measurable data that will highlight a patient’s progress.

    Our doctors are only interested in working with patients who can benefit from our program. If a patient’s diagnosis requires a referral or assistance from a different provider, both Dr. Ford and Dr. Schmoker are happy to provide the best solutions to suit the needs of the patient.

  • Contrary to this misconception, most patients do not need to repeat therapy. During vision therapy, the eyes and neurological system are trained to work together properly, and as you continue to use them, this relationship continues to build.

    Only if there is a significant change to the body that affects the neural pathways between the eyes and brain such as a concussion, should a patient be seen for a Developmental Eye Exam to know if additional vision therapy is needed.

  • Over 60% of Dyslexia symptoms are shared with Vision Problems. Because Dyslexia is a “rule out” diagnosis, treatment requires that binocular vision problems be solved first.

    We partner with local Dyslexia Treatment Centers to get patients the help they truly need. Studies show that 1 in 4 children experience binocular vision problems and many of those symptoms present as Dyslexia and/or ADHD.

    After vision therapy, many patients see these symptoms dramatically reduced, if not gone altogether.

    Click here and take a quiz to see if your Dyslexia symptoms could benefit from a Developmental Vision Exam.

  • Most patients have to wait until at least 10 in office sessions before seeing noticeable progress, on average, this is about 5 weeks. First progress exams with Dr. Ford or Dr. Schmoker are when a patient receives measurable results.

    If therapy is prescribed, an important thing to remember is that a patient will get out of it what they put in. There is a significant difference in progress between a patient who does their home therapy exercises and a patient who does not.

    If you want the results, you must be willing to do the work. While it can feel like a large commitment, it is a life-long investment.

  • Unfortunately, Google’s AI feature pulls its data from outdated resources.

    Our therapy program is constantly updated to reflect the most up-to-date research provided by the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association. It is through OVDRA that Dr. Ford has her fellowship and our therapists receive their certifications.

    You can see research on vision therapy by visiting www.covd.org and find thousands of doctors that also provide vision therapy across the USA.

  • Surgery alone is a cosmetic fix. While it can seem faster, it cannot give you depth perception or teach your eyes to work together, it cannot create neural pathways between the eyes and brain. And in some cases, surgeries can even overcorrect.

    We see many patients post-surgery who are unable to achieve eye teaming and depth perception without vision therapy.

    There are cases in which surgery is the best course of action for a patient, but that should always include vision therapy to achieve success.

  • Occupational Therapists may offer some similar exercises. However, without the supervision of a Developmental Optometrist, they are unable to use lenses, prisms and an Optometrists advanced equipment for manipulations and training the way a Vision Therapist can.

  • It has been proven that if you have a Binocular Dysfunction as a child, it will carry into adulthood. It is not something that can be grown out of.

    We see patients from infancy and well into adulthood achieve success within our program.