Vision Therapy

A developmental optometrist spends years in post-doctoral education to master the complex visual programs prescribed to prevent or to normalize visual problems and enhance visual performance. Developmental optometrists, also known as behavioural optometrists, perform functional vision assessment. This includes testing for eye tracking, eye focusing, eye teaming, eye-hand coordination and visual perceptual skills.  Not all optometrists have the advanced training or equipments required to perform a functional vision assessment, which is why many refer their patients to Dr. Debbie Luk.

Vision Therapy is an individualized therapy program designed to improve and treat visual function. This includes the treatment of amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye turn), eye tracking, eye focusing, eye teaming and visual perceptual deficits. The goal is to improve visual skills and functions to eliminate symptoms of visual stress and provide the skills necessary to read and learn at the patient’s full potential.  

Please visit us at Vision Therapy Calgary for more information.

It is known that 80% of learning comes from vision. Nearly all the visual problems that deter children from doing well in the classroom will not be uncovered by the standard eye chart. This is because 20/20 eyesight is only a small part of vision.  In fact, visual acuity has little correlation with reading ability, although children must be able to see the board and reading material reasonably well.

Vision is a learned ability to interpret, perceive and correctly identify information. A vision problem can hinder a child’s ability to stay focus on tasks, to learn to read and to understand math concepts. Furthermore, vision problems can affect eye-hand coordination and depth perception, affecting the ability to play sports and music.

Would you like to have Dr. Luk speak at your next meeting?

Dr. Luk gladly provides informative and interactive lectures to educators, health care professionals and community groups.  The lectures address vision development, children’s eye care, common vision problems, and the connection between vision and learning. Because Dr. Luk understands how undiagnosed vision problems can impact not only the children, but the entire family, she offers these lectures at no charge.

The vision therapy program is designed and supervised by a developmental optometrist. The therapy is provided on a one-to-one basis by the doctor or vision therapist. Various equipments are used to remediate the visual function such as

• corrective lenses (regulated medical devices)
• therapeutic lenses (regulated medical devices)
• prism lenses (regulated medical devices)
• optical filters
• eye patches
• computer software
• vestibular (balance) equipment
• visual-motor-sensory integration training devices

If you feel you or your child has a vision problem, here are five appropriate questions that should be asked of any vision care practitioner before the appointment is made. These are:

1. Do you make a full series of nearpoint tests? 
2. Do you make school-related visual and/or visual perceptual tests? 
3. Do you provide total vision care including appropriate therapy to help work with the problems identified? If not, will you refer me to a colleague who does provide therapy? 
4. Will I receive a detailed written report if requested that we can understand and apply to assist the child? 
5. Will you see this child on a regular basis to ascertain his progress?

Most doctors will answer "yes" -- however, the time periods involved are dependent on each individual case.  If "no" or "this is not routine", you may want to check elsewhere.

It is very important that those concerned with the child have a concise explanation of the visual conditions that are causing problems.

It is one thing to identify a visual problem, and another to do something about it.Again if the answer is "no" call another doctor.

Parents Active for Vision Education (P.A.V.E)                 www.pavevision.org

P.A.V.E.® is a national non-profit education, resource and support organization whose mission is to raise public awareness of the crucial relationship between vision and achievement.

Vision Therapy Success Stories                http://www.visiontherapystories.org
A collection of over 500 stories. Read what many patients, teachers, and parents have written when asked "What changes have you seen as a result of a Vision Therapy program" or "How has Vision Therapy changed your life?"

Vision Therapy FAQs                 http://www.visiontherapy.org/vision-therapy/faqs/vision-therapy-FAQs.html 

An eye doctor answers questions about Vision Therapy in an interview.

College of Optometrists in Vision Therapy              www.covd.org 

An international professional organization which grants board certification in vision therapy to optometrists.

Optometric Extension Program                  www.oepf.org

Serving the educational needs of optometrists.

Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association               www.nora.cc 

An organization which provides direction for the visual rehabilitation of persons who have physical disabilities and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI).