Dr. Dietrich specializes in Vision Therapy which is a progressive program of prescribed vision procedures to help an individual’s eyes work together and with their brain to properly interpret visual information.
Because a child has 20/20 visual acuity according to the eye chart does NOT mean he or she has good vision. “Eyesight” is a physical process of focusing light within our eyes, whereas “vision” involves our ability to understand what is seen.
The eye chart does not identify the following problems:
– Near focusing (Most learning is done within an arm’s length such as reading
from a book or working at a desk.)
– Eye coordination (binocularity) and focusing
– Convergence (a visual skill required for reading)
– Eye movement and tracking
– Depth perception and peripheral vision
– Visualization
– Strabismus (crossed or wandering eye)
While statistics show vision disorders are the number one handicapping condition for children, according to the American Foundation for Vision Awareness, use of the eye chart alone only identifies five percent of the vision problems in children.
Left untreated, these visual disorders may cause difficulty in learning.
Following are some common symptoms these vision problems may cause:
– Eye focusing – Blurred vision or ability to shift focus between objects between near and far distances may be compromised.
– Eye teaming – Your eyes may not work together properly as a team even to the point of experiencing double vision.
– Eye movements – You may experience difficulty with eye movements when reading or trying to follow a moving object (like a ball being thrown). Losing your place while reading is a common complaint.
