VISION THERAPY POSITION
According to the American Optometric Association, optometric Vision Therapy, also referred to as visual training, or orthoptics, is a treatment regimen to correct or improve specific dysfunctions of the vision system identified by standardized diagnostic criteria.
Position
It is the position of the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired that vision therapy is not an educationally acceptable or approved intervention for the education of children and youth who are blind or visually impaired. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind, Elementary and Secondary Education Act require educators to consider evidence based educational practices.
The rationale for this position, not supporting vision therapy as an educational intervention, is based on the lack of scientific evidence of the efficacy of eye exercises “vision therapy” as an educational intervention. Additionally, the time that would be required for vision therapy would take from research based educational interventions. Third, to the extent that vision therapy may be an appropriate medical intervention the research has found this medical intervention to be most effective with a comprehensive eye exam followed by a treatment plan administered in the medical office under the guidance of a doctor. Medical services such as this are excluded as a related service under the IDEA.
For these reasons, unless and until the research base is established for vision therapy as an effective educational intervention, the Statewide System for Vision Services, a cooperative educational program of the Department of Education, Department for the Blind, Iowa Board of Regents / Iowa Braille School and the organization of the Area Education Agencies does not endorse vision therapy as a proven educational intervention.
References
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act – No Child Left Behind (NCLB), 20 U.S.C. §§ 6301 et seq.
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