VT Works

All of our patients are special.  They all have special lives with unique circumstances and for most of us, helping them becomes more than just our job, it becomes our mission. A great many of my friends and colleagues openly make this admission. As a profession, we are bound together by a selfless energy, an energy that… Read more

Yesterday I took advantage of an opportunity to volunteer at my son’s elementary school, through a program called Watch D.O.G.S. Probably the one and only day in my life where I took no exception in being referred to as the “dog of the day”, it was actually a great joy.  The D.O.G.S. program is designed to involve… Read more

Written by Guest Blogger: Jessica Zwilling COVT I was going to write about something entirely different this week until personal experience over the weekend inspired me otherwise.  Coincidentally, it somewhat ties into my last blog entry. I was at 6 year old birthday party with my three kids.  It was one of those indoor playground… Read more

It’s long been contended that learning is not a continuous forward motion; that there are ebbs and flows as we absorb, process, and re-calibrate. Some learning occurs in giant leaps, some in moderate gains, and some in baby steps.  It’s just how it works. Please pay attention class, we are on the precipice of a… Read more

Trying To Be A Superhero Written by Guest Blogger: Jessica Zwilling COVT You can’t save everyone.  My boss tells that to me all the time.  Being a natural optimist, I don’t want to believe it, and most of the time I don’t.  Then, every once in a while, I come in contact with an individual… Read more

Most areas of life operate in the realm of Right vs. Wrong, it’s how our society it glued together.  There is a right and wrong way to respond to 2+2, to spell cantaloupe, and to react when approaching a stop sign in your car.  Our society identifies our intelligence value and our relative cooperation with… Read more

The word “retarded” can be viewed in many lights, most of them unkind.  Growing up next to a sibling with developmental delays and cognitive challenges, I learned from an early age the level of pain that word can cause. To this day, it is equivalent to an “F-bomb” in my house, and anyone who slips… Read more

So I’m feeling a little sentimental this morning.  Maybe it’s because many of my more endearing and long standing patients have graduated Vision Therapy lately, maybe it’s due to a few great conversations I had with some great friends last night, or maybe it’s because our office has decided to hold our Wednesday morning staff… Read more

It’s always challenging to summarize the life of an individual in a few paragraphs; even more so for someone you barely knew.  Challenging or not, remembering where we’ve come from has always been important to me, and acknowledging the debt of gratitude to those who have laid our groundwork is always a good place to… Read more

This post appears as part of a series called Sit Down – candid conversations with real people detailing their journeys and experiences with Vision Therapy. A Sit Down – with Dr. John Abbondanza For the benefit of our readers, can you explain how you are involved in Developmental Optometry? First, Robert, let me say how much I… Read more

Late last night I participated in a conversation via social media involving the many different methods for treating strabismus, and specifically the gaping hole between treatment from MD’s and OD’s.  In many ways, it’s a great development: society has evolved enough that more and more people are realizing the value in exploring options in treatment.… Read more

A question was posted recently on the Facebook page of the Vision Therapy Parents Unite group that caught my eye. It’s a topic tackled many times before, and since it’s surfacing once again, let’s have another go of it. The post read: Headaches during vision therapy practice at home–any advice? Peter is 9–convergence insufficiency, etc.… Read more

Anyone who still may doubt that learning disabilities and academic challenges can severely impact a child’s emotional well being, listen up. I’m about to change your mind. This morning, at a friend’s recommendation, I came across a Facebook page dedicated to a young man named Colin who resides in Michigan. Colin, according to a news… Read more

Presumably, most people would agree that seeing a picture of the Northern Lights may not be as awe-inspiring as witnessing the phenomenon first hand. The same might be said of the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, and even Mount Rushmore. But why is that? Why do we put so much weight, so much effort, in first hand… Read more

Had to share this wonderful post from April. Her original post can be found here. Congratulations!! 🙂   WE HAVE A VISION THERAPY GRADUATE! Posted on February 6, 2014 by April We made it! After 16-months our daughter will be graduating from her vision therapy program tomorrow with Dr. Fabian Tai & Associates. It’s been a long haul, that was… Read more

Below is Cavin’s latest blog posting. You can view the original post here. The Optimism of Optimetrics – My Upcoming speech at NORA 2014 CAVIN BALASTER FEBRUARY 3, 2014 0 The Optimism of Optimetrics January has been an incredible month to kick-off to the new year. Hours after launching the new CavinBounce.com, I was contacted by Developmental and Rehabilitation… Read more

My experience on horses is fairly limited. I’ve been on two, and fallen off both – no wait – I’ve been thrown off both. Where I come from that’s called hilarious, unless you’re the one feeling gravity’s pull. Both times things were nice and calm when suddenly the horse became tired of me and introduced… Read more

A special thanks to Dr. Dominick Maino for sharing this photo on his Facebook page. Took me a few minutes to figure it out, but hard to “un-see” it now. Enjoy 🙂 Read more

It’s the stuff movies are made of. Not an “A” movie where our highly attractive antagonist, complete with strong chin and 5 o’clock shadow, wreaks havoc on some unsuspecting spec of the universe; meanwhile, the hero braves all peril to save the world thereby winning over the damsel’s heart. Not at all. More like the… Read more

For those who have not yet discovered the Vision Therapy Parents Unite Facebook page, please check it out, and consider joining. The page is a great resource for parents to seek the advice and experiences of other parents, as they work to better understand the dynamics of Vision Therapy.  Many of our parents have already… Read more

When living in San Diego, I was lucky enough to work with and learn immense amounts from Dr. Bob Sanet.  One event that stands out is after examining a highly frustrated young man in his teenage years, Dr. Sanet recommended Vision Therapy to remediate some learning related visual concerns. Dr. Sanet was (and I’m sure still… Read more

Many of you who read Part 1 were able to appreciate the quandary. Child needs services, mom bends over backwards to find help, dad insists it’s a motivational issue or the child’s lack of application.  It’s unfortunate, but a reality it seems we all have faced. So, now what? A longstanding patient with a myriad of… Read more

Regardless of which model of vision we work under, most quality Vision Therapy programs are built upon a hierarchy for development – be it visual, motor, perceptual, or some combination of the three. They all are good. We approach visual skills from the top down and from the bottom up, always adjusting to the needs… Read more

Without agreeing or disagreeing, I found this video very interesting since it touches on a population of patients that are very near to my heart. It is offered here purely on an informational basis. http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/01/18/ac-gupta-omega-3-help-for-brain-injuries.cnn.html Read more

This post appears as part of a series called Sit Down – candid conversations with real people detailing their journeys and experiences with Vision Therapy. A Sit Down – with Dr. Jennifer Dattolo   For the benefit of our readers, can you explain how you are involved in Developmental Optometry? I am currently one of four optometrists… Read more

At 38 years old, I’m pretty mellow compared to 10 or 15 years ago. Things that used to rattle my cage don’t anymore, and compartmentalizing the negative input of others is a valuable skill I’ve learned to manage, dare I say, well.  The cynic in me would have you believe that I’ve just finely tuned… Read more

A friend sent this to me. Thought I would share. Read more

This post appears as part of a series called Sit Down – candid conversations with real people detailing their journeys and experiences with Vision Therapy. A Sit Down – with Michael Lievens   For the benefit of our readers, can you explain how you are involved in Developmental Optometry?  My name is Michael Lievens and I’m a… Read more

Imagine you’re born into a world where, at a certain age, all members of your community receive a purple elephant which is invisible to everyone but themselves. Society caters to the needs of people’s elephants, the media centers most stories around the existence of elephants, people discuss the flaws and virtues of their elephants constantly,… Read more

  A friend shared this powerful video with me yesterday.  It really has nothing to do with Vision Therapy, and at the same time, has everything to do with being a good therapist.   Read more

Ahh, the new year is here.  Time to consider repacking those holiday decorations, reorganizing daily routines and perhaps again committing to changes designed to bring on a happier and healthier lifestyle. For anyone interested in sports 2014 promises to be a banner year, with the Winter Olympics and World Cup serving as a nice backdrop… Read more

In the course of training new therapists, there always seem to be lessons available to all, even those of us charged with guiding their education.  Ocular motility activities and the Accommodative/Vergence relationship are well documented and the resources for learning in these areas are plentiful and always  held in high stead.  Not so abundant though… Read more

If there is one thing that working with people in a therapeutic setting has taught me, it’s that attitude is everything. Not the patient’s attitude – mine.  I’ve written in the past how much difference can be made in the patient’s outcome simply by adjusting my thought process towards the positive before beginning a VT… Read more

For those who may be unfamiliar with the Wayne Saccadic Fixator, it is an activity designed to enhance Central/Peripheral Integration and Eye-Hand Coordination, among other things. Setting 9:1, which demands the participant push as many lights as possible in 30 seconds, is a typical starting line for patients in our office. It can also be entertainment… Read more

If there’s one common skill area that could always be improved, it might be our patience.  Patience at home, with our kids, with co-workers, in the therapy room and even in personal relationships.  As humans go, patience will ebb and flow with the changes to our personal space, and those who occupy it.  But what… Read more

Over the last few years, an interesting trend has developed with some of my adult patients who seem to fit the same profile. All patients are in their early to mid 40’s, developed an eye turn (usually turning in) as Presbyopia sets in, and all had Lasik in their mid 30’s to correct for a high… Read more

Most patients with an educational or attention deficit seek the same thing – improvement. Whether by therapeutic process, glasses, contact lenses, vitamin supplementation, medical intervention or surgery – or some combination of these – acceptance of potential solutions seems lodged somewhere between doorsteps of improvement and credibility. People will take the advice of those they… Read more

In researching some information late last night for another blog post I’m writing, I came across a disturbing and pretty jaded article that was written by a woman in 2004 identifying herself only as a parent and a graduate of The Athenian School.  In her “About Me” section, she offers the following statement as part… Read more

Ah, the little people. Those patients in their earliest years trusting Vision Therapy to help guide their visual development. Who am I talking about? The toddler with a congenital Exotropia, the 2 year old developing an Accommodative Esotropia, the three year old wearing +6.00 correction who cannot help but clunking his head on EVERYTHING, and… Read more

My friend recently posted this video on Facebook.  It’s a touch of comic relief that brings into focus that which many parents experience every day in raising their kids.  Glad to know I’m not alone! For those of us assigning home therapy activities, I share it here to remind all of us of what parents… Read more

Like many of my generation, my parents believed that I should never start a fight but should I be on the receiving end of another’s frustration or aggression, self defense was a must – it was the old “never throw the first punch” idea. Growing up in a rough neighborhood, physicality became an unfortunate right… Read more

So summer is over.  The leaves are turning red and yellow, in some parts of the country it has begun to snow, and yes, the holidays are among us.  Hard to believe it’s already late November! For many Vision Therapy offices this time of year tends to be slower.  Our office is considered a “referral… Read more

I was excited to learn that Dr. Gary Williams, of Owego, New York has recently joined us in the blogosphere.  Dr. Williams’ blog, entitled WilliamsAndMintOD is dedicated to providing book reviews and bringing articles of interest to our attention.   Dr. Williams has been a great supporter of my writing over the last year and often will… Read more

“The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence” ~ Carl Sagan Prior to entering Vision Therapy, Caroline completed a perceptual testing battery, as most patients do.  This testing revealed very few deficiencies, in fact, had it not been for slow reading speed and efficiency as her chief complaint, she may have been referred elsewhere… Read more

If there’s one truism that 14 years in the Vision Therapy room have taught me, it’s that assumptions are dangerous – maybe even disastrous.  It can be difficult to avoid assumptions though,  we all perceive the world through our own filter and at times those filters can be jaded by our past experiences and expectations.… Read more

Being awarded the  COVT of the Year this year in Orlando was pretty amazing, and still, there are times looking back that I wonder if there was some mistake.  After all, when you get right down to it, I mostly get paid to play with kids all day. The recognition was very much appreciated though,… Read more

Accommodative Dysfunction is widely understood as an umbrella term for the more specific inadequacies with accuracy or stamina, facility and flexibility, amplitude, or sustainability. In layman’s terms, focusing on a near target either quickly or for a prolonged period is tough.  Symptoms of a focusing weakness can include headaches, red or sore eyes, inappropriate working… Read more

Had to make a mid-afternoon trip across Austin yesterday to retrieve my daughter from school, and predictably hit every traffic snag on wheels.  During one particular stagnate moment, I noticed a bumper sticker on an older model pickup truck which read: Guns are about as responsible for killing people as pencils are for misspelled words.… Read more

When I was working as a Vision Therapist in San Diego, our office had a young lady named Monica as a patient, who at that time was around 11 or 12 years old and in middle school. Monica was as “middle of the road” as kids come – nice family, sweet disposition, and great affection… Read more

It is bound to happen. Someone will complain. Working with families during their child’s crisis can be some of the toughest work out there, and yet offers some of the biggest rewards when successful.  We do our best, try to be understanding and accommodating, work within the given framework of their family dynamic, try everything… Read more

I want to extend my utmost gratitude to everyone from the VT community! I am so incredibly honored to receive your support. Many of you have commented that my story is one that must be heard and spread. I clearly agree 100%, which is why I have created a blog, and launched this project to… Read more

I was so thrilled to meet both Robin and Jillian Benoit in Orlando a few weeks ago at COVD’s Annual Meeting. Their first book, Jillian’s Story, detailed Jillian’s life-changing success with Vision Therapy and was often suggested by my doctor as a “must read” to patients and other professionals.  It is a powerful and enlightening account… Read more

  WE DID IT!!! Thanks to EVERYONE that contributed to this wonderful cause. Something more formal coming soon, but for now, you are ALL fantastic!!   Read more

Last Friday, I posted a Sit Down with my friend, Cavin Balaster, who suffered a TBI in May 2011. Since that time, a mini-campaign has begun thanks to some great friends, as we all came to realize the potential impact Cavin’s book will have on Developmental Optometry and the world of brain injury sufferers.  Cavin… Read more

As part of our certification process, Vision Therapists are asked to respond to a series of Open Book Questions designed to assess and nurture the candidate’s knowledge.  For the last several years, one question in particular has addressed the concept of patient motivation, and how each Vision Therapist applies their own techniques for motivating patients… Read more

This post appears as part of a series called Sit Down – candid conversations with real people detailing their journeys and experiences with Vision Therapy. A Sit Down – with Cavin Balaster For the benefit of our readers, can you explain how you are involved in Developmental Optometry? Hi everyone, my name is Cavin. I have Diplopia… Read more

One aspect I really enjoy about my job is, it’s never boring.  Sure, there are the same old activities that I’ve done day after day that I probably could successfully execute in my sleep; and that part can be monotonous.  But beyond the repetitious activities are the amazing people. People who have a story to… Read more

If patients were ever to “read the book” on effective Vision Therapy, imagine how our model of vision would be changed. Compliance with home programs would be higher, endurance through long rehabilitative programs would be stronger and determination to find supreme visual efficiency would be greater across the board.  Wouldn’t that be nice.  Without overstating… Read more

If you took your car to the mechanic at the first sign of trouble, and were told it needed to be completely disassembled and reassembled in order to make it run better, what would you think? You may question what you’re supposed to do in the meantime?  Can the problem really be fixed?  Am I… Read more

During my acceptance speech for my award last week I acknowledged Abigail Holland COVT, whose story has really inspired me.  When I returned home from Florida, I received several emails asking if I would re-post the original story. Abby has now completed her COVT and is moving forward with her life. We are all so… Read more

Sitting in the lobby of the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel in Orlando, I am filled with two quite opposing emotions.  On the one hand it’s nice to be headed home to see my kids, sleep in my own bed, and have clothing options beyond the capacity of my suitcase; but on the other hand, a… Read more

Out the window of our landing plane, I was able to enjoy a few brief glimpses Orlando’s sunset yesterday evening. The beautiful view was symbolic both of the upcoming Annual Meeting – an awesome week which I always enjoy immensely – and of a patient that has been on my mind in recent days.  A… Read more

“So last night as I was closing up my binder of notes, I ran across some notes I had about magno and parvo cells and thus ended up dreaming all night long about them” This was the text message I received on my way into the office this morning from the COVT candidate I’m mentoring.… Read more

As described in this post last week, I recently found myself in a position of trying to explain the difference between depth perception and stereopsis to a COVT candidate.  In working to clearly understand it myself, assistance was sought out, and subsequently offered by four great doctors who were named in this post, and indirectly… Read more

At the risk of sounding cynical, and if I do then so be it, I’d like to pose a question that has been on my mind for several days now.  My question was spawned by a series of experiences occurring late last week, and brought to a head today when a parent informed me of… Read more

Admittedly, this story has nothing to do with Vision Therapy, but everything to do with the human spirit. Growing up with a handicapped sibling, these stories always carry a special meaning for me.  A true demonstration of the power behind lifting up those around you, as so many of us do in our Vision Therapy rooms.… Read more

Maven, refers to an expert or connoisseur in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. Or put another way, maven comes from Hebrew, via Yiddish (mevin), and means one who understands, based on an accumulation of knowledge. This according to the brains of Wikipedia. An interesting topic arose last night between myself and a COVT candidate… Read more

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take ~ Wayne Gretzky I doubt my first patient of the morning knows who Wayne Gretzky is, she does however, have something in common with him. They both seem to understand the importance of taking a shot. Living with a decompensating Convergence Insufficiency, my 49 year old… Read more

Last week we witnessed another stomping of Vision Therapy, compliments of this article detailing one Los Angeles school district employee’s limited view of  the many benefits offered.  It was an unfortunate publication representing the misconceptions surrounding VT and Developmental Optometry. This morning, a fantastic response written by Dr. Charles Boulet, appeared in the same publication and… Read more

Often times in Vision Therapy we look for the little things, small gains indicative of an upcoming eruption of progress.  This morning, I may have witnessed just that. My friend “S” is a very cautious 8 year old mostly due to his unstable visual system and partly because he is the oldest of four children… Read more

Again we’ve encountered a myth, an article the work of a sensationalist writer armed with more rhetoric than research, regurgitating falsehoods less appealing than yesterday’s breakfast, with hopes that the microcosmic pebble kicked will somehow cause a landslide of change.  The song is the same, sung as off key as ever – every note skewing facts… Read more

If anyone were to construct a shortlist of the finest Vision Therapists to emerge over the last 10 years, Samantha “Sam” Caldwell COVT would definitely be included.  A fixture at Alderwood Vision Therapy Center of Lynnwood, WA – the office of Dr. Nancy Torgerson – for the last 11 ½ years, Sam has improved hundreds… Read more

Friends ~ I came across this article while eating lunch today.  It has nothing to do with VT, but everything to do with the emotional well being of the kids we serve.  For those of us who primarily work with children, I offer it here as a friendly reminder to remain vigilant.  As a trusted… Read more