Pediatric & Binocular Vision Therapy in Colorado Springs

Name: Bettner Vision
Address: 9205 N Union Blvd #110, Colorado Springs, CO, 80920
Telephone: 719-282-0400

Vision is More Than Seeing Clearly

While visual acuity, or clarity, and sharpness of vision, is important, visual ability is more than 20/20 vision. The relationship between the visual system and the brain is important and complex. It must be synchronous not only to see objects clearly, but to establish binocular vision: the ability for both eyes to work together as a coordinated team.

When binocular vision is compromised, seemingly simple tasks such as walking up and down stairs, playing sports, detecting the speed of objects, as well as reading and writing can be challenging.

If you suspect that you, your child, or another family member has a problem with their binocular vision, please book an appointment with the binocular vision specialists at Bettner Vision.

The Importance of Binocular Vision

Binocular vision forms naturally in infancy, usually at around 3 to 4 months old. For some patients, however, it simply doesn’t develop as it should. This is where binocular vision therapy comes in – it provides tools to develop, rehabilitate, and enhance binocular vision in both children and adults.

Binocular vision is required to properly engage in almost every mental and physical activity. When both eyes aren’t working together as a team, it can lead to a host of symptoms, including:

Headaches
Fatigue
Eyestrain
Blurry or double vision
Nausea
Muscular incoordination or clumsiness
Poor depth perception
Lack of focus or a short attention span
Poor handwriting
Reading difficulties
Behavioral issues or acting out
A lack of eye-hand coordination
Loss of interest in school and once-loved activities

If you or your family member have one or more of the above symptoms, pediatric vision therapy could be your solution.

Binocular Vision Conditions

Binocular vision conditions are a group of common ailments that develop from deficiencies in eye teaming, eye focusing, and eye coordination. These conditions can all result in the symptoms described above. Common binocular vision conditions include:

Convergence Insufficiency

When the eyes are unable to work together, an eye coordination disorder known as convergence insufficiency can develop. This condition results in the eyes drifting outward when reading or when engaged in any close work activity.

Eye-Tracking Disorders

Eye-tracking is the ability to smoothly track a moving object, shift the eye gaze between objects, and keep objects still while the head is moving.

Focusing Disorders

Eye-focusing disorders develop from a lack of accommodation (the ability to focus the eyes when looking at near objects). This may result in an inability to focus or un-focus the eyes, or difficulty adjusting focus from near to far.

Strabismus

Also known as crossed eyes, strabismus is the inability for both eyes to look at the same place at the same time. Often eyes appear crossed, as one may turn in or away from the nose.

Amblyopia

Commonly known as lazy eye, amblyopia is the loss of clear vision in one or both eyes. It can develop from other eye conditions, including strabismus, high prescription, or other ocular abnormalities.

Visual Perception

Visual perception is the brain’s ability to properly process, recognize, and interpret what the eyes see. Visual perception disorders can strongly affect the ability to learn and process information.

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy, sometimes known as orthoptics, is akin to physical therapy for the eyes and brain. It is a non-surgical, customizable set of exercises and activities that change the way visual information is interpreted and processed, so the eyes and brain can work together more effectively.

Vision therapy services can improve binocular vision deficiencies as well as non-visual issues, such as learning obstacles, fine motor skill problems, and physical development issues – things you may not realize are related to the visual system.

Pediatric Vision Therapy

For children who experience binocular vision problems, symptoms can be tricky to identify and are often disguised as other things: gradual or sudden changes in behavior, trouble with homework, bad grades, less interest in once-enjoyed activities, and physical development delays – all things you may not realize are related to the visual system.

Unfortunately, this can lead to a learning disability or anxiety disorder misdiagnosis: a recent study has concluded that children with vision problems are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than children whose vision is developing normally.

Binocular Vision Therapy for Adults

In some cases, the lack of adequate binocular vision development or improperly developed eye muscle control can go undiagnosed until adulthood. This may be due to a lack of eye care or misdiagnosis in childhood. Whatever the cause, vision therapy can help adults develop their visual skills.

Binocular vision problems in adulthood may also develop due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) or neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. In this case, when binocular vision loss is caused by trauma or a neurological condition, neuro-optometry may be recommended.

The Vision Therapy Process

Comprehensive Eye Exam

To assess whether a patient requires vision therapy, our optometrists will conduct a comprehensive eye exam, which includes a thorough discussion of your symptoms and vision and lifestyle challenges. This exam is an important first step in determining whether vision therapy is the right treatment for you.

Sensorimotor Exam

If your comprehensive eye exam returns results that warrant further testing, we will then conduct a thorough sensorimotor examination. It involves an in-depth evaluation of your eye muscles, eye tracking, eye alignment, focusing ability, depth perception, and peripheral vision. This exam is key to establishing an effective and personalized vision therapy treatment plan.

Vision Therapy Treatment Program

Based on our findings, after the initial examination we will outline and recommend a schedule of training sessions. The length of these settings will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your expectations, and your goals.

Each vision therapy session is customized specifically for the patient being treated. To develop and strengthen binocular vision, we may incorporate learning aid such as:

Therapeutic lenses
Prisms
Specialized filters
Occluders or patches
Balance boards
Functional exercises
Specialized video games or computer programs
Hand-eye coordination exercises

You can expect a personalized schedule of weekly or bi-weekly sessions, as well as at-home activities and exercises.

Visit Our Location

Find Us in Colorado Springs

Our Colorado Springs practice is conveniently located in the Marketplace at Briargate, beside Sushi Rakkyo and the T-Mobile store.

Our Address

9205 N Union Blvd #110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Contact Information

Phone: 719-282-0400
Fax: 719-282-1004
Email: [email protected]

Hours of Operation

Monday

8 AM – 5 PM

Tuesday

8 AM – 5 PM

Wednesday

8 AM – 5 PM

Thursday

8 AM – 5 PM

Friday

8 AM – 5 PM

Saturday

By Appointment

Sunday

Closed

Book Your Appointment

Our Specialty Services

Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute (KSLI)

At Bettner Vision, our keratoconus and scleral lens institute specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with keratoconus – a progressive eye disorder that results in the thinning of the cornea.

Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute (KSLI)

Keratoconus & Scleral Lens Institute

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in eye anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eye.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine that specializes in eye anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eye.

Ophthalmology

Pediatric & Binocular Vision Therapy

Vision therapy, sometimes known as orthoptics, is akin to physical therapy for the eyes and brain. It is a non-surgical, customizable set of exercises and activities that aim to resolve symptoms that interfere with visual abilities, motor skills, and brain function.

Pediatric & Binocular Vision Therapy

Neuro-Optometry: Visual Rehabilitation

Our eyes and brain are inseparably linked. Impulses continuously travelling back and forth via the optic nerve ultimately result in what we see and how we see it.

Neuro-Optometry: Visual Rehabilitation

Our eyes and brain are inseparably linked. Impulses continuously travelling back and forth via the optic nerve ultimately result in what we see and how we see it.

Neuro-Optometry