80% of all learning      during a child's      first 12 years      comes through      vision.
Eye examinations are an important part of a child’s development. The American Optometric                      Association (AOA) recommends that even if no eye or vision problems are apparent, the first                      thorough eye examination should be at the age of 6 months.                     As a child grows and enters school age, a comprehensive eye examination looks more                      closely at learning-related vision problems. A school screening and even a pediatrician vision                      screening is not detailed enough to determine if a vision-related learning problem is present                      because vision is more than just good eyesight or 20/20 acuity. Vision involves eye tracking                      skills (eyes staying on target), eye teaming skills (eyes working in synchronized fashion),                      binocular vision (blending images from both eyes together at the same time), accommodation                      (eye focusing), visual-motor integration (eye-hand coordination), and visual perception                      (visual memory, visual form perception, directionality).                     A vision-related learning problem can be caused by a dysfunction of any one of these parts                      of the vision. The National Center for Health Statistics says 20-25% of children enter school                      with significant vision problems which can affect their development and progress in school.                     At the Pediatric Vision Development Center of Gwinnett we provide one-on-one patient                              to doctor vision therapy sessions. We evaluate for specific visual dysfunctions contribute to                      Vision-Related Learning Problems. Inadequately developed or ineffective visual abilities in                      the following areas can lead to Vision-Related Learning Disorders: Accommodation (eye focusing) Amblyopia (Lazy eye) Binocular vision (blending images from both eyes together at the same time) Eye tracking skills (eyes staying on target) Eye teaming skills (eyes working in synchronized fashion) Strabimus (Eye-turns, Crossed eye) Visual-motor integration (eye-hand coordination) Visual perception(visual memory, reversals of letters and numbers, Right and Left awareness) Learn about Larry Fitzgerald's experience with Vision Therapy     Our Focus is Your Child's Vision
WHAT IS VISION THERAPY?
www.oepf.org	Vision therapy is a field of optometry that requires great involvement of the visual system. As defined by the College of Vision Development, vision therapy is: A progressive program of vision procedures. Performed under doctor supervision. Individualized to fit the visual needs of each patient. Generally conducted in-office, in once or twice weekly sessions of 30 minutes to an hour. Occasionally supplemented with procedures done at home between office visits.
Depending on the case, the procedures are prescribed to: Help patients develop or improve fundamental visual skills and abilities Improve visual comfort, ease, and efficiency Change how a patient processes or interprets visual information  Vision Therapy is NOT Just Eye Exercise   Unlike other forms of exercise, the goal of Vision Therapy is not to strengthen eye muscles.   Your eye muscles are already incredibly strong. Vision Therapy should not be confused with any self- directed  program of eye exercises which is or has been marketed to the public.  Vision Therapy is NOT A treatment for learning problems  Based on education and training; optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat visual deficiencies, not educational problems. Optometrists do not teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Optometrists are a part of multi-disiplinary team working with children and adults where teaching to read is the primary responsibility of the educator. The optometrists often assist in defining and clarifying the nature of certain disorders that are contributing to a child’s reading difficulty.     60% of students identified as “problem learners” have undetected vision problems. American Optometric Association
WOULD VISION THERAPY HELP MY CHILD?   CHILDREN’S VISUAL SYMPTOMS CHECKLIST   After each symptom listed, circle the number that best describes how often your child experiences these behaviors.    The number 0 means your child NEVER has these behaviors, a 4 means your child ALWAYS has these behaviors. Symptoms                                                                                                      Never                                        Always 1. Headache above one or both eyebrows                   _____________            0            1            2            3           4   2. Words run together when reading or on the computer         _____________ 0            1            2            3           4 3.  Has a eye that turns in or out                                                       ________ 0            1            2            3           4 4.  Avoids reading, especially small print                                         _________ 0            1            2            3           4 5.  Double vision                                                               ___                   ___ 0            1            2            3           4  6.  Lose place when reading                                                                      ____0            1            2            3           4 7.  Difficulty concentrating when reading or on the computer                               0            1            2            3           4 8.  Blurry vision in distance and/ or near during or at the end of day                    0            1            2            3           4 9.  Get too close to the book, computer screen, or television                              0            1            2            3           4  10. Fill in the wrong “bubbles” on a computer graded test                                  0            1            2            3           4 11. Falls asleep when reading                                                                            0            1            2            3           4 12. Closes one eye or tilt head when reading or on the computer                       0            1            2            3           4 13. Eyes burn, or feel tired                                                                               0            1            2            3           4 14. Slow or inaccurate when copying from board or overhead                          0            1            2            3           4 15. Omits small words when reading                                                                0            1            2            3           4 16. Write “uphill” or “downhill”                                                                        0            1            2            3           4 17. Misaligns or misplaces numbers in columns                                                 0            1            2            3           4 18. Inconsistent or poor at sports                                                                     0            1            2            3           4 19. Carsickness, or motion sickness                                                                 0            1            2            3           4 20. Uses finger to keep place when reading                                                      0            1            2            3           4 21. Writes letters or numbers backwards                                                         0            1            2            3           4 22. Has persistent difficulty learning to spell                                                      0            1            2            3           4 Watch the WebMD video on vision difficulties and therapy
For More information on vision therapy visit:  www.covd.org              DIRECTIONS: Traveling from the South:                                         Traveling from the North: Take 1-85 N to Exit 120 (Hamilton Mill Rd.)                    Take I-85 S to Exit 120 (Hamilton Mill Rd.) Turn LEFT on Hamilton Mill Rd.                                     Turn RIGHT on Hamilton Mill Rd. Drive 2 miles, the office is on the Right.                          Drive 2 miles, office is on the Right. Pediatric Vision Development of Gwinnett is located within Hamilton Mill Eye Care