Is Vision Therapy An Option For Your Child?
Posted on: 13 February 2017
Vision therapy is a controversial form of treatment that many eye doctors recommend for children who suffer from certain visual ailments. There is some debate as to whether or not it is effective. If your eye doctor has recommended vision therapy for your child, here is what you need to know.
What Is Vision Therapy?
There are several options available for treating eye conditions, such as inadequate development of the sensorimotor. Vision therapy is one possible non-surgical treatment. The idea behind vision therapy is that your child's eyes will be trained to perform correctly through a series of exercises.
Some eye conditions, such as wandering eyes, are considered to be the result of the brain ineffectively processing images that are received by the eyes. Through the use of therapy, your child's brain will be trained to effectively process the information and react within a timely manner.
Does It Work?
Whether or not vision therapy actually works has been debated among medical professionals. While some believe that it does not work, others believe that is an effective means of treating certain eye conditions.
Ultimately, you will make the decision regarding whether or not vision therapy should be used for your child. Because it is a non-surgical option that has no side effects, some parents have allowed their children to undergo vision therapy on a trial basis. For some children, there have been positive results and your child could potentially experience those same benefits.
What Should You Ask Your Eye Doctor?
Even if you are unsure whether or not vision therapy is right for your child, you need to ask questions about the treatment to make an informed decision. When discussing the therapy with your eye doctor, there are some questions that you should ask before agreeing to the therapy:
- Why is your eye doctor recommending vision therapy?
- What exercises will be used during therapy?
- Will the sessions be covered by your insurance provider?
- How many sessions will your child need?
- How often will your child's vision be re-evaluated to determine progress?
- Are the therapeutic sessions done at home, school, or the doctor's office?
- What if the therapy does not work in your child's case?
Your eye doctor can answer any other concerns about vision therapy for your child. The doctor can also recommend a therapist and work with him or her to provide your child with the right care for his or her visual problems.
Share