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Vision Therapy For Children and Teens in Victoria & Nanaimo Developmental Optometry


Good vision goes beyond seeing clearly. It’s also about how well your child can interpret and understand the world around them. If you are an adult needing vision therapy, learn more here.

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What is Vision Therapy?

The core of good vision relies on the connection between the eye’s ability to record visual data and the brain’s ability to process it. It’s what allows a child to read, write, play sports, socialize effectively, and complete other tasks.

A child can pass standard vision screenings and have no trouble reading eye charts, but still experience difficulty reading, maintaining focus, and have a condition like strabismus (crossed eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye). Vision therapy can treat these poor visual skills to set your child up for success.

Vision therapy, a field within developmental optometry, is an innovative approach designed to help children develop better visual skills by training the brain and the eyes to work more harmoniously.

Vision Therapy for Children and Teens
Vision therapy for adults at NeuroVisual Performance

Who Can Benefit From Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy improves visual skills such as eye-tracking, eye teaming, hand-eye coordination, focusing, and more — and is beneficial for children with reading, writing, balance, and memory challenges. If your child is experiencing difficulties with their academics or has been diagnosed with a learning disability, book a functional vision exam at Opto-mization in Victoria or Nanaimo to determine if a vision problem could be the culprit.

Many children unknowingly experience vision problems that make it difficult to learn and reach their full potential. Sometimes, this can be misdiagnosed as a learning disability. Additionally, children with learning disabilities are more likely to have poor visual skills — making learning a bigger obstacle than it should be — and can certainly benefit from vision therapy.

Our vision therapy program is ideal for children with:

  • Learning disorders such as dyslexia
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Amblyopia (lazy eye)
  • Strabismus (crossed eyes)
  • Convergence insufficiency
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Down syndrome
  • Autism
  • Developmental disorders
  • Academic delays

eye disease management (4)

Symptoms of Visual Problems

If your child shows any of the below symptoms, they may have a vision problem:

  • Lazy eye, cross-eye, double vision
  • Difficulty reading or reading below grade level
  • Poor classroom performance
  • Difficulty staying focused
  • Poor hand-eye coordination
  • Constant squinting/head tilting
  • Using fingers to read
  • Skips lines or words when reading
  • Favors one eye over the other
  • Poor handwriting
  • Headaches or fatigue after reading or computer work

How Does Vision Therapy Work?

Vision therapy involves exercises, lenses, prisms, filters, and occluders to improve visual skills. Advanced technology allows children undergoing vision therapy to do fun and interactive activities that capture their interest. They’ll also be able to do their at-home vision therapy exercises with ease on the computer.

Vision therapy usually includes 15 minutes of daily exercises to be completed at home and weekly 45-minute in-office appointments. The duration of the program varies for every patient and depends on the severity of your child’s diagnosis, their eye health, and if they do their exercises regularly. You should gently monitor your child’s daily activities to make sure they stay on track.

At Opto-mization, we’ll support you and your child every step of the way.

Does Vision Or Medical Insurance Cover The Cost Of Vision Therapy?

Insurance plans differ, which is why you need to understand your child’s coverage and whether your provider offers direct billing for vision therapy.

We can help you maximize your benefits, understand your deductibles and co-pays, and directly bill your insurer so that your little one can access the vision therapy they need.

Contact Opto-mization in Victoria or Nanaimo if you have any questions or queries, or if you’d like to book a functional vision exam for your child. Remember to also ask us about our 100% money-back guarantee.

How Long Will It Take to See Results with Vision Therapy?

Some children may experience quick breakthroughs, while others may need up to six months to start showing improvement. It all depends on your child’s specific therapy routine, their commitment to the program, and their vision problems and goals.

Is There an Age Limit for Vision Therapy?

Children of all ages can benefit from vision therapy. The brain is like a muscle — the more your child practices strengthening the connection between the brain and the eyes, the better their visual function will become. This is known as neuroplasticity.

Vision Therapy