What Is Vision Therapy (​Sensorimotor examinations/Vision Therapy)

NOTE: Vision therapy plans are customized to individual patient diagnoses and more information the vision therapy process will be discussed at the initial senorimotor examination.  

TYPES OF PATIENTS SEEN FOR SENSORIMOTOR EXAMINATIONS 
  • Symptoms such as:
    • History of head injury/concussion; depth misperception, photosensitivity, dizziness, sensory over-stimulation, motion/sound sensitivity, side vision loss.
    • Squinting/tilting head
    • Poor hand/eye coordination
    • Eye turn/crossed eye/lazy eye
    • Eye strain
    • Double vision
    • Skipping lines/words when reading; using fingers to read; losing place when reading
    • Blurred vision; fluctuating vision
    • Headaches
    • Poor classroom performance/difficulty staying focused
    • Difficulty with school/reading/near work
  • Strabismus: an eye turn/crossed eye/lazy eye
  • History of head injury/concussion with residual symptoms such as those listed in #1, depth misperception, photosensitivity, dizziness, sensory over-stimulation, motion/sound sensitivity, side vision loss.  
THE PROCESS
  • During a standard pediatric comprehensive exam with your optometrist, your doctor will assess the general health and vision of your eyes.  At our office, your pediatric comprehensive exam will be billed to your standard vision insurance or medical insurance, if applicable.   If the optometrist determines that additional testing is necessary, you may be referred for a sensorimotor examination at our office with Dr. Taylor McGann. 
  • The sensorimotor examination will likely be conducted within 1-2 weeks with Dr. McGann, and will be billed to your medical insurance. This exam will give a baseline of values and determine if vision therapy is prescribed.
  • Vision therapy programs vary based on need, but generally will be performed once per week for 45 minutes for 8 weeks. Home exercises will be performed 5 times per week for about 20 minutes.
  • A progress evaluation will be performed after 8 weeks in order to monitor the patient’s progress.
  • Most patients will need between 16 and 24 weeks of vision therapy.
  • A final visit will be performed one month after vision therapy after home exercises have been tapered down.