Vision Therapy for Adults: Success Stories

By Dr. Russel Lazarus
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Personal stories from adults whose lives have been enhanced with Vision Therapy.

*Names have been changed for privacy protection.

I have always had problems reading and found out that Vision Therapy would help. Now the words do not move on the page and I am able to get through the newspaper and read quicker.

Patricia R.

 

I chose to do Vision Therapy because I was desperate, as I had tried many other therapies in the past. I had become quite debilitated since I could no longer drive for more than 10 minutes. I could not shop for groceries, and on most days I could manage no more than the simplest housekeeping chores. I got sick at every meal as nausea and dizziness severely limited my activities.

Through visual rehabilitation, I have reclaimed huge tracts of my life. I drive, shop, work around the house, help others around their homes, eat, and read with pleasure. Last month, I worked one week as a counselor at a sleep-away summer camp.

This month, I undertook one 3-day training to prepare to teach on a substitute basis and I will participate in a week-long sports medicine workshop. I hope the latter will help me secure a coaching position. In general, my energy level is much better and I feel that I can count on feeling well enough to work now.

Like all rehab therapies, vision rehabilitation hurts, but only for a while. I became nauseated and had to stop within a minute of starting my first homework assignment. Eventually, I could tolerate 20-30 minutes, two to three times a day. I liked learning about my eyes, what they do, how they do it.

I have learned via the program to exert more control over my eye movements. I found the visagraph analysis technology fascinating and some of the “optical illusions” are just plain great!

Walter K.

 

Who knew that Vision Therapy could change so much? Before I started my weekly sessions, or even knew about Vision Therapy, I struggled with so many things that I felt were natural to struggle with. My memory wasn’t so great, and my reading wasn’t either.

In fact, in my sophomore year of high school, I took an AP History class, where I had to read about 20 pages a night from a textbook. The 20 pages seemed to be a million, and I usually fell asleep after the third page. And even when I read all 20, I’d have no idea what I had just read.

Now after Vision Therapy, would you believe me if I told you I read Death of a Salesman a month ago in no more than 2 days? And I haven’t even started to describe the wonders of Vision Therapy. I am a classical voice student, and I train with some college professors once a week. Without telling them about my experiences with Vision Therapy, they have commented on my improvements in rhythm, sight reading, sight singing, and my overall musicianship.

Vision therapy has improved my reading, math abilities, memory, eye and hand coordination, among many other things, and has brought a measure of ease to my life.

Tasha S.

 

I am much better at focusing and have been able to read much better and longer. I can now read while riding in a car. I think that this program was a great help to me. It improved my reading and headaches.

Without this, my life would be unbearable as I am disabled and cannot do a lot, so my eyes are my life.

Phyllis G.

 

After seven sessions I knew Vision Therapy was something tangible I could do to drastically improve my vision problems

Linda P.

Contact a vision therapy eye doctor near you so that you can be a part of these success stories.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: Vision Therapy for Adults

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Teaching the patient how to treat themselves, so they can be in control of their own therapy allows the patient to have a lifetime cure.

I really believe and trust in Vision Therapy. All that I ask is that the doctor never stop helping others.

Chelsea H.

 

As a graduate student reading frequently, I had been dependent on reading glasses for eight years. After completing the Vision Therapy program, I no longer require them.

This has also given me a great alternative to the frustration of bifocals.

Lisa M.

 

Vision Therapy has given me a chance to help myself.

Nancy R.

 

Thanks to Dr. X’s expertise and Vision Therapy, my daily vertigo has stopped and I am able to read again after forty years of just poor scanning.

I have learned that developmental optometry is a highly specialized and rarely publicized field of optometry that’s not chosen or practiced by many.

Vision Therapy is an area that not only takes an education, but an unselfish dedication to the patient and requires unlimited time, patience and consummate skill to unravel the intangibles and restore the ability to read.

Paul Y. E.

 

My focusing problems have much improved. Vision Therapy was instrumental in bringing about this change. I don’t need additional therapy and I will continue with the prism prescription Dr. X recommended.

I have passed Vision Therapy information along to my MS [multiple sclerosis] group leader.

Karen E. O.

 

Vision Therapy has:

  • Improved confidence in my vision and my overall physical ability.
  • Proved to me I can control my body with practice
  • Improved my vision overall
  • Improved my concentration when reading for a long time or from far away
  • Made me aware how my vision affects my overall well-being
  • I can use my vision to help control my moves

Mark B.

 

Two years ago I changed jobs to a full-time college instructor. The amount of computer work, reading, and paperwork increased tremendously. My eyes began to burn, ache, and I would eventually become very tired.

I went to a vision chain store to have my eyes examined. The doctor strongly suggested that I wear glasses continuously throughout the day. I am nearsighted with astigmatism in both eyes.

Approximately three months ago, I stopped in Dr. X’s office for a possible fitting of contact lenses. I do not like to wear glasses. He examined my eyes and asked many questions concerning the type of work I was doing. He was trying to get an idea of how much close up work I was doing on a daily basis.

He prescribed low stress lenses for my close work and cut back on my distance prescription for nearsightedness and the correction for astigmatism. He mentioned I should try not to wear the glasses continuously.

I adapted to the decreased distance lenses well and began to cut back on the amount of usage. The fact that I was wearing another prescription for close up work took off the strain and stress from my eyes, therefore the need to wear my distance lenses decreased.

Before all this was done, I was at a point where I could not teach without wearing my distant lenses. I was so dependent on them. Now, I can teach without my glasses.

Overall, I feel my eyes are better than they were before. Thanks to Dr. X for changing my lenses, spending time with me to assess my actual needs and to help me decrease the amount of time I actually wear my glasses. I no longer need to inquire about contact lenses.

Nancy L.

 

Before Vision Therapy I didn’t understand how the eyes worked. I know now how to focus my eyes properly and the exercises have strengthened them.

I really don’t know how I’ve gotten along all these years without being able to see properly. I thought I was accident prone as a kid, but now I realize I just wasn’t able to see properly.

I am enjoying reading for the first time in my life. If you are considering Vision Therapy, start as soon as you can.

Lisa

 

My vision has improved at work, before and after using the computer. I think that I would have gotten more out of Vision Therapy if I had taken more time to do the home exercises, too.

Anil H.

 

It is now almost two years since I finished my therapy, but the results are lasting. At the time I started therapy, my headaches were unbearable. They were caused by my eye muscles. My age was against me, but everyone in the optometrist’s office kept encouraging me until my goals were reached.

The main change is no more headaches! I must admit that I never really believed I could change my eye muscles. When I was done, I was afraid that with time I would regress. Thankfully, that has not happened. During therapy, I thought each week’s new exercise was beyond my ability to do and then I was delighted to find I was wrong.

Thanks again for helping me so much.

Judy D.

 

I don’t get headaches as often as I used to. In addition, I don’t feel as claustrophobic in small areas. When using the computer, I don’t feel as constricted as I did prior to Vision Therapy.

Shani L.

 

Before therapy, I got headaches when I read a book or worked at the computer. Now, I don’t strain during these activities at all.

Rachel F.

 

My work has become easier. I have fewer headaches and can work for longer periods of time on the computer. I can focus better while reading and am able to follow the sentences.

My night vision has also improved and light doesn’t bother my eyes while driving.

Magaly T.

 

My distance vision has improved. Using my new reading glasses I can read easily and with much less strain.

Lisa M.

 

I am very happy with the professional care and sensitivity to my eye condition that I found with Dr. X. A series of visits to other optometrists, ophthalmologists and doctors never seemed to bring me any understanding of or relief from my eye and other problems.

I finally found a sensitive understanding of my vision problems along with solutions that have worked for me. Without this help and understanding, I’m sure I would not be able to function very well. Vision is so important for a full and happy life.

Thanks to Vision Therapy, I am a healthier and happier person.

Matt P.

 

It has been a tough haul, but I did it! Now I can go back to college as a “full-time student.” That was something I thought would never happen. I am confident that I will do well. Between the eye exercises and the use of my glasses, how can I not!

Also, thanks to Vision Therapy, I can resume food shopping, which is important when you take care of a household.

Thank you!

Sammy H.

 

For a number of years I was trying to get help with my double vision, which forced me to drive with one eye closed. The only option given by the doctors I consulted was wearing an eye patch while driving or a double eye surgery.

Dr. X suggested including prism in the prescription and following up with Vision Therapy. The prescription worked like a charm. No more double vision!

I can’t understand why such a simple solution to a mild adult strabismus is not in the repertoire of every eye care provider.

Maurice D.

 

When I was first prescribed prism in my glasses (for a deviating eye or strabismus), I was told that Vision Therapy was not worth the effort. That was wrong, incorrect and misleading. Vision Therapy and binocular vision (or stereoscopic vision) exercises and therapy have immediate and worthwhile effects.

The benefits take three broad forms:

  • Less eye strain if you tend to go cross-eyed or have a lazy eye
  • Less habitual use of only one primary eye, allowing both eyes to furnish you more information
  • The beauty and wonder of stereoscopic vision thereby giving you increased enjoyment and perception of both your daily environment and of artistic productions

With such benefits, I can only conclude that my previous eye doctors’ comments against pursuing binocular Vision Therapy were false because they were just based upon rumor and not upon experience.

God gave us two eyes for a reason. Two eyes provide stereoscopic vision, depth perception, and a three-dimensional view of the world. Because of habit, some of us are limited to a two-dimensional world. We habitually see the world in two dimensions, as a flat photograph. We look at a landscape as if it were a photograph, as if it were in two dimensional.

For over fifteen years I went from Ophthalmologist to Optometrist, and they all discounted binocular Vision Therapy as being too much trouble, too costly, or too frustrating.

My impression now is that they never experienced Vision Therapy or binocular exercises for themselves in order to see what the results would be. If they had personal experience, they would realize that Vision Therapy and exercises have immediate and specific results, which begin at once, and only get better.

In this testimonial, I want to warn you against the discouraging remarks of other eye doctors. Try Vision Therapy for yourself. See for yourself. Find out for yourself whether or not Vision Therapy adds to your life.

I believe that you will find, as I have, that binocular vision and the result of a three-dimensional world are well worth the effort.

Jerald U.

Can you relate to any of these stories? 

If you suffer from headaches, double vision, dizziness, or any other condition that impacts your daily performance, you may have a vision problem. 

LEARN MORE: Neuro-Optometry

Schedule a vision evaluation as soon as possible.

The earlier a vision problem is detected, the sooner you can begin a vision therapy program to help you achieve the visual skills you need for clearer, more comfortable, binocular vision.