Vision Therapy Expert Announces Vision Therapy as Solution for Children with Convergence Insufficiency

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Dr. Tod R. Davis, OD

State-of-the-art specialized computer and optical devises, such as therapeutic lenses, prisms and filters are used to develop each patient’s visual motor skills and endurance.

Gainesville, Va. (PRWEB) September 04, 2012

One in twelve children suffers from a condition called convergence insufficiency, a disorder that affects the eyes’ ability to work together, even though they demonstrate 20/20 visual acuity. According to developmental optometrist Dr. Tod Davis, the disorder is often treatable through vision therapy.

According to the Mayo Clinic, convergence insufficiency (CI) interferes with the ability to see at close distances, making it difficult to read and do homework. Symptoms can include headaches, blurry vision, double vision, and problems concentrating.

Testing for Convergence insufficiency is not included in pediatrician’s eye tests, school screenings or basic eye exams and often goes undetected until the child is a teenager or young adult. Children with CI are often restless in the classroom and disinterested in school work. As a result, many are misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

“Since CI can’t be detected by administering a basic eye exam or treated adequately with glasses, it’s important to have your child tested by a developmental optometrist early so treatment can begin,” Dr. Davis said. “Our comprehensive exam goes beyond determining what your child can see on a standard eye chart and evaluates important visual skills.”

Dr. Davis develops individualized, specialized treatment programs for each of his patients which include procedures designed to enhance the brain’s ability to control eye alignment, tracking, focusing, movements and visual processing. State-of-the-art specialized computer and optical devises, such as therapeutic lenses, prisms and filters are used to develop each patient’s visual motor skills and endurance. “The CITT has scientifically proven in-depth vision therapy treatments to be one of the best ways to treat convergence insufficiency,” claims Dr. Davis.

The Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) was a 2006 study into the effectiveness of a variety of different treatments for convergence insufficiency which demonstrated that office-based vision therapy treated convergence insufficiency significantly better than “pencil push-up” treatments, at-home computer-based treatments, and placebo treatments.

A developmental optometrist is trained to evaluate the impact of vision on behavior and learning. Although Dr. Davis doesn’t prescribe lenses or test for near and farsightedness, he does work in tandem with family optometrists to identify and treat other vision-related conditions. Dr. Davis recommends children receive their first eye test at the age of five.

About Dr. Tod Davis

Dr. Tod Davis Developmental Optometry and Vision Therapy Services offices are located in Gainesville, Fredericksburg and Winchester, Va. Dr. Davis is a developmental optometrist with over 30 years of experience treating people of all ages for a spectrum of different vision disorders, including convergence insufficiency, strabismus, amblyopia and vision-related reading difficulties. Visit DavisVisionTherapy.com for more information, patient forms and contact information.

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