4765 Villageplazaloop Suite 100

Lifetime Eye Care

4765 VillagePlazaLoop Suite 100

Eugene, OR97401

Ph. 541-342-3100 Fax 541-342-6153

How to Identify & Treat

Learning‐Related Vision Problems

If a child appears to be struggling in school or performing below his/her ability,

an undiagnosed vision problem may be the cause.

MANY CHILDREN HAVE UNDETECTED VISUAL PROBLEMS THAT INTERFERE WITH THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN. Bright children, who aremistakenly labeled as lazy, having AD(H)D, or learning disability, may actuallyhave learning‐related vision problems. Behavior problemsmay develop due to frustration felt by students who want toperform, but don’t understand why they cannot.

EVEN CHILDREN WITH 20/20 EYESIGHT CAN HAVE THESE PROBLEMS caused by the inability of the brain to adequately process the visual information that the eyes are collecting. The traditional 20/20 acuity test only evaluates distance vision and cannot detect learning‐related vision problems.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT VISION THERAPY PROVIDES A SOLUTION. Optometrists trained in Developmental Optometry have theexperience to evaluate, diagnose and treat learning‐related visionproblems. These doctors can prescribe an appropriatetreatment program of Vision Therapy when neededthat can put a child back on the road to high self‐esteem andsuccess in school.

Quick Facts

• The 20/20 eye chart test (invented in the 1860s) only measures what you can see far away, not the “up-close” ability to see books or computers, nor the ability of the eyes and brain to work together in processing visual information. Traditional testing for 20/20visual acuitydoes not detectlearning‐related vision problems.

• Thorough vision testing measures eye teaming (how the eyes work together), focusing (ease in sustaining focus for up-close work), and tracking skills (how accurately and smoothly eyes move together across a page of print) as well as visual information processing abilities.

• Developmental Optometrists are trained in the diagnosisand treatment of visionproblems that interfere withreading and learning.

• Vision problems are often typically misdiagnosed as learning disabilities or ADD/ADHD leading to special education intervention and unnecessary drug treatment of school children.

• Scientific research has documented the effectiveness of vision therapy in developing and improving visual abilities resulting in enhanced school performance and improved self‐esteem.

• The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) estimates that there are 10 million children under 10 years of age in the U.S. that have vision problems.1

• Up to 25% off all school age children have vision problems significant enough to impair academic performance. The rate may be as high as 60% for those children labeled as having learning problems.2

• An evaluation of the visual efficiency of beginning readers in a public school found that visual factors were the primary cause of reading failure and that most current school screenings are inadequate to detect these problems.3

• A study of inner city youths found that poor vision is related to academic and behavioral problems among at-risk children.4

• Studies have shown that the correction of vision problems with vision therapy leads to significant reduction in visual symptoms and improvements in reading performance.5, 6, 7

References:

1. National Parent Teacher Association

2. American Foundation for Vision Awareness

3. Optometry & Vision Development

4. Journal of Behavioral Optometry

5. Binocular Vision & Eye Muscle Surgery Quarterly

6. Optometry and Vision Science

7. Optometry: Journal of the American Optometric Association